[Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum]

The echocardiographic examination of a female, overweight patient, 71 years of age, with left-sided breast cancer, performed in another hospital, revealed a tumor of the interatrial septum of 3.2 x 4.0 cm. The patient was transferred to our clinic and the finding was identified as a lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum by echocardiography, computer tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. It was confirmed by biopsy and histological examination. The lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a rare, benign disease, which usually does not cause a hemodynamic significant obstruction of the blood flow. An increased incidence of atrial arrhythmias is known to occur in this condition and seems to be the only functional restriction.