Left Ventricular Lipoma by Transesophageal and in Vitro Echocardiographic Studies

This case report describes a patient with a known left ventricular mass which was documented by transthoracic echocardiography and which had not changed in size after anticoagulation. The mass was characterized as fatty tumor or hemorrhagic by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging study, and surgical removal of the mass was performed. Transesophageal echocardiogram was performed intraoperatively. The tumor appeared homogenous with no echolucencies or echodensities and an overall bright echotexture. In vitro ultrasound studies done using similar instrument gain settings showed the lipoma specimen to have a much brighter appearance than a myxoma. This finding may be helpful in differentiating a lipoma from other left ventricular masses such as myxoma or thrombus. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved

Duke Scholars

Author Rajendra H. Mehta Medicine, Cardiology