Left ventricular rupture through an area of fatty infiltration: Case report and review of the literature

An exceptionally rare case of left ventricular rupture through an area of fatty infiltration of the myocardium (lipomatosis cordis) is presented. The rupture occurred in a 62-year-old white woman during a dobutamine stress echo procedure. The autopsy revealed biventricular lipomatous infiltration with marked atrophy of myocardial fibers. There was no evidence of acute or old myocardial infarction. The literature is reviewed and pathology and clinical consequences of this condition are discussed.