Primary valvular lipomatous hamartoma: a case report and a collective review of the literature

Cardiac valvular tumors are very infrequent lesions constituting about 10% of the primary cardiac neoplasms. Among the valvular tumors, lipomatous hamartoma represents a very rare and distinct pathological entity. Retrieval of the literature reveals only eight reported cases, and there is lack of information regarding their clinical features. Herein, we describe a patient with a mass on the tricuspid valve detected incidentally and diagnosed to be a "lipomatous hamartoma." To obtain a better understanding of the nature of these unusual lesions, we reviewed the literature and presented their clinicoanatomical characteristics together with diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.