Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody on 1 Sep 2023

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is a relatively uncommon disorder of the heart characterized by benign fatty infiltration of the interatrial septum. It is commonly found in elderly and obese patients as an asymptomatic incidentally discovered finding. 

The prevalence of lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is estimated to be ~5% (range 1-8%). The incidence increases with age, body mass and chronic corticosteroid therapy. There may be a higher incidence in women 6.

The condition is usually asymptomatic and incidentally discovered in a majority of individuals 5. There may be arrhythmias or superior vena cava syndrome if the superior vena cava is encased.

Microscopically, lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is characterized by fat infiltration between the myocardial fibers of the atrial septum. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum also can create a mass-like bulge. There is typical sparing of the fossa ovalis 9, with lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum lying anterior to the fossa ovalis. It does not have a capsule, in contrast to cardiac lipoma.

Diagnosis is made with CT when a smooth, non-enhancing, well-marginated expansion of the interatrial septum is identified exceeding 2 cm in transverse diameter. 

Because it spares the fossa ovalis, the lesion characteristically takes on a dumbbell-shaped appearance. This may best be seen on reconstructed short axis views.

MRI diagnosis is straightforward in classic cases, and this entity is characterized by a bilobar interatrial septal thickening revealing homogeneous high signal intensity similar to that of subcutaneous fat tissue.  

  • T1: high signal

  • T2 non-fat suppressed: high signal

  • T2 fat suppressed: low signal

The exclusively fatty nature of such masses can be seen on fat-suppressed imaging.

Usually shows a moderate degree of FDG-uptake. It may vary on serial studies and the FDG-avidity was initially thought to be caused by the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) 12,13. More recently this theory has been questioned by other authors, with suggestion of either inflammation or a hitherto unidentified mechanism of BAT activation as potential mechanism 14.

Be that as it may, there is consensus on the necessity of hybrid imaging and correlation with former imaging studies to avoid misclassification.

It is benign in many individuals and often does not warrant any treatment, in situations where there is severe superior vena cava obstruction or intractable rhythm disturbance, surgical excision with reconstruction of the interatrial septum is sometimes considered.

Although histologically benign, LHIS has been associated with adverse clinical sequelae including 

  • cardiac rhythm disturbances 7,8: lipomatous hypertrophy is usually situated in the area of at least two described interatrial conduction pathways (anterior and middle internodal pathways), and their interruption could be the major reason for rhythm disorders such as 

    • supraventricular arrhythmias  

    • atrial fibrillation

    • atrial premature contractions

    • atrioventricular block

  • obstructive flow symptoms including dyspnea - especially if large 6,16

  • syncope

  • sudden death

It was first described by the American pathologist John T Prior (1917-2007) working at Syracuse College of Medicine, New York City, in 1964 17,18.

Differential diagnoses should be thought of when there is sparing of the fossa ovalis.

Fat-containing neoplasms that can arise in the atrial septum include:

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