[Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interauricular septum. Morphological and electrocardiographical aspects]

The authors report a case of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum diagnosed by echocardiography and confirmed by computerised tomography. The electrocardiogram showed an intra-atrial conduction defect considered to be virtually pathognomonic of this condition. The differential diagnosis and clinical implications of this abnormality, which is usually a fortuitous finding, are discussed in the light of recent publications. A precise diagnosis avoids confusion with other pathologies necessitating specific treatment such as intra-atrial thrombi and tumours.