[CT scan of an extensive cardiac lipoma (author's transl)]

Cardiac primary tumors are rare, and their pattern of signs is often hardly characteristic. This makes diagnosis rather difficult. Surgery well in time - which will usually result in complete cure - is always indicated, since even benign neoplasias may lead to considerable complications. Generally, cardiac lipomas remain small, but in some cases the lipomas may be large and even result in death of the patient. Early diagnosis is now possible via angiocardiography, echocardiography and recently also computed tomography. The advantages of CT scanning are, among others, presentation of an image which can be appreciated at a glance with regard to both the intracavitary and the extracavitary parts of the tumour and their relation to the adjacent organs.