Cardiac lipomas, while often asymptomatic, can cause a variety of symptoms depending on their size and location within the heart. These symptoms primarily arise from obstruction of blood flow or disruption of normal heart rhythm.
The reported symptoms include:
- Dyspnea: Shortness of breath, often due to obstruction of blood flow.
- Syncope: Fainting spells, possibly caused by arrhythmias or obstruction of blood flow.
- Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeats.
- Palpitations: A sensation of rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeats.
- Angina: Chest pain, resulting from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
It's important to note that many cardiac lipomas are discovered incidentally during imaging performed for other reasons. The initial diagnostic test for a suspected cardiac mass, including a lipoma, is usually echocardiography.
