A large left atrial lipoma combined with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Primary benign tumors of the heart are extremely rare and usually difficult to diagnose for their asymptomatic signs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old woman was admitted for shortness of breath caused by a large left atrial lipoma combined with coronary artery disease. Next, we successfully performed simultaneous curative surgery for the large cardiac lipoma and coronary artery bypass grafting with a “starfish” and no cardiopulmonary bypass was used.The patient was discharged on the eighth postoperative day in a good condition, and has remained asymptomatic at the 5-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Lipomas are rare and difficult to diagnose, while computed tomography and computed tomography angiography can give us very important clues. Surgery is necessary. We can introduce a “starfish”to the operationand the cardiopulmonary bypass is unnecessary for the left lipoma with coronary artery disease.