Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interatrial Septum Revisited

Visceral adiposity in patients with lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS) is a benign cardiac mass determined by abnormal deposition of adipose tissue in the interatrial septum. The quantitative relationship between LHIS and visceral adiposity has not been explored to date.In this retrospective study, three groups of consecutive patients undergoing CT imaging were enrolled: L + with LHIS, L- without LHIS, and LO- without both LHIS and history of malignancies. Areas of total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and LHIS areas were calculated on CT images. The relationship between LHIS and abdominal fat distribution was investigated with linear regression models. Bonferroni correction was applied to account for multiple testing. Statistical significance was set at 5%. In this study we enrolled a total of 175 subjects: 58 (33.14%) with LHIS (L +), 51(29.14%) without LHIS (L-) and 66 (37.71%) without both LHIS and medical history of malignancies (LO-). VAT (coeff: 105.82; 95% CI 59.37-152.27), SAT (coeff: 74.59; 95% CI 31.63-117.54), and TAT (coeff: 190.37; 95% CI 115.02-265.72), were significantly higher in L + patients. Moreover, VAT (coeff: 24.95; 95% CI 6.94-42.96) and TAT (coeff: 36.58; 95% CI 8.75-64.41) were statistically significant linear predictors for LHIS area. Here, we report a novel association between LHIS and visceral adiposity using a quantitative CT-based imaging approach. The results are of great importance also because they might drive early identification of subjects with LHIS at risk for visceral obesity, and trigger lifestyle interventions aimed at weight loss.

A Left Atrial Thrombus Mimic: Value of Ultrasound Enhancing Agents during Transesophageal Echocardiography

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Fat in the transverse pericardial sinus can mimic thrombus on TEE.

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Epicardial fat is more common in patients with AF.

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UEAs can differentiate extracardiac from intracardiac structures.

Massive lipomatous hypertrophy of the right atria

A case of a 70-year-old female with a history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, pacer implantation for symptomatic bradycardia, and a prior cerebrovascular accident, and had developed persistent methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is reported here. As part of her evaluation, a transesophageal echocardiogram was performed, and even though no vegetations were seen on either pacer wires or cardiac valves, a massive homogeneous thickening of the superior portion of the interatrial septum extending to the posterior and roof portions of the right atrial wall as well as to the superior vena cava causing proximal compression of this vessel was noted. Computed tomographic examination of the chest helped to determine that this mass density was not a tumor but in fact intrapericardial fat. Imaging findings and existing literature on this topic are reviewed.