Key result
Autopsy of a 60-year-old man who suffered sudden cardiac arrest revealed a 90 g lipomatous hypertrophy of the cardiac interatrial septum, highlighting it as a potential etiology of sudden cardiac death.
Why the study?
Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a rare benign cardiac lesion that is important to detect early, but doing so can be difficult due to its rarity.
Case Report (n=1)
Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum should be considered as a potential etiology of sudden cardiac death in patients with known cardiac risk factors.
Alerts clinicians to LH in unexplained syncope; leaves open optimal detection and management strategies.
RATIONALE: Lipomatous hypertrophy (LH) of the cardiac interatrial septum is a rare benign lesion of the heart, usually described as a nonencapsulated mass arising from the atrial septum, with common symptoms, such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, and syncope. It is very important to detect LH as early as possible; however, this can be difficult due to the rarity of the condition. PATIENT CONCERNS: Here, we report the unique case of a 60-year-old-man who was found to be unconscious in his car by a paramedic. The patient was declared dead after a preliminary diagnosis of unspecified sudden cardiac arrest. The patient had a history of heart disease and was referred several times by a cardiologist. DIAGNOSES: The final diagnosis of LH was made after autopsy. INTERVENTIONS: Autopsy revealed LH of the cardiac interatrial septum, a soft, smooth mass 12 cm in length, up to 8 cm in width, and weighing 90 g. The interior of the mass was firm, nonelastic, and yellowish in color, with a few vessels. Histological examination confirmed adipose tissue proliferation and perivascular connective tissues between the cardiomyocytes and hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. OUTCOMES: Despite comprehensive examinations, LH was not diagnosed prior to the patient's death, which resulted in a sudden and unexpected fatal outcome. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the cause of death was determined postmortem through autopsy. LESSONS: This case highlights the importance of considering LH as a potential etiology of sudden cardiac death, particularly in patients with known cardiac risk factors.
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Laima et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Lipomatous hypertrophy of the cardiac interatrial septum (n=1). Lipomatous hypertrophy of the cardiac interatrial septum was evaluated on Diagnosis and cause of death. Autopsy of a 60-year-old man who suffered sudden cardiac arrest revealed a 90 g lipomatous hypertrophy of the cardiac interatrial septum, highlighting it as a potential etiology of sudden cardiac death.
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