Thoracic fatty lesions - some usual and unusual appearances

Since the advent of computed tomography (CT) special attention has been given to fatty lesions because of their specific coefficient of attenuation (-100 to -30 Housfield units) permitting a definitive non-interventional diagnosis. Many reports have appeared in connection with unusual conventional radiographic images related to lipid lesions as demonstrated by CT. We reviewed the different features of fatty accumulations in the thorax and report on 15 lesions, not including a number of large pleuropericardial fat pads, that we have encountered in our practice between January 1976 and December 1979. Two patients underwent surgery. The diagnosis was otherwise established by CT. All the lesions were benign. A classification is suggested.