Lipomatus hypertrophy of the atrial septum and prominent crista terminalis appearing as a right atrial mass.

In these case reports, transthoracic echocardiography suggested the presence of a right atrial mass. However, subsequent transoesophageal echocardiography revealed that the 'right atrial mass' was actually a lipomatous hypertrophied atrial septum in combination with a prominent crista terminalis. An understanding of the anatomy and the echocardiographic appearance of a lipomatous hypertrophied atrial septum appearing with a prominent crista terminalis will minimize the misdiagnosis of these structures. Copyright 2002 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.