A 64-Year-Old Woman with Imaging Features Consistent with a Posterior Intrapericardial Lipoma and 5-Year Imaging...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Primary cardiac and pericardial neoplasms are rare findings.
• Incidental detection of these tumors often occurs during echocardiography.

Observation:

• A 64-year-old woman presented with an intrapericardial mass detected via transthoracic echocardiography.
• Computed tomography (CT) revealed a homogenous, fat-density mass without contrast enhancement.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the benign nature, classifying it as a lipoma.

Findings:

• The patient remained asymptomatic with preserved intracardiac flow, supporting conservative management.
• A 5-year imaging follow-up showed mild tumor growth without surgical indication.
• MRI provided definitive diagnostic features for this posterior intrapericardial tumor.

Implications:

• Echocardiography and CT can detect intrapericardial tumors.
• MRI is essential for characterizing benign tumors, especially those unsuitable for surgery.
• Conservative management is viable for asymptomatic pericardial lipomas.