Clinical and Morphologic Features of Lipomatous Hypertrophy ("Massive Fatty Deposits") of the Interatrial Septum

J. Douglas Gay, Joseph M. Guileyardo, Janis K. Townsend-Parchman, Karen Ross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum ("massive fatty deposits in the atrial septum") may represent an incidental autopsy finding or may be associated with atrial arrhythmias, obstructive symptoms, or sudden death. Antemortem diagnosis is becoming much more common. In a literature review and in a review of our 12 cases, this condition was found to occur more frequently in obese middle-aged or elderly subjects, who frequently demonstrated atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The unencapsulated mass generally occurred anterior or superior to the fossa ovalis, and histologically was characterized by mature fat with varying quantities of fetal fat, inflammation and fibrosis, and entrapment of myocardial fibers with cytologic atypia. Cases were included that had a minimum atrial septal thickness of 1.0 cm. The septum ranged up to 7.0 cm in maximum thickness (2.6 cm average). In our cases, no deaths were directly attributed to this disorder. It is important that forensic pathologists become more generally aware of this condition. To further delineate the true pathological significance, the atrial septum should be routinely examined by palpation and sectioning to determine its thickness and fat content.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-48
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Keywords

  • Adipose tissue
  • Arrhythmias
  • Fetal fat
  • Fossa ovalis
  • Interatrial septum
  • Lipomatous hypertrophy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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