MedPath

Epipericardial Fat Necrosis: A Misdiagnosed Condition

Completed
Conditions
Epipericardial Fat Necrosis
Interventions
Other: No intervention. It is a retrospective study
Registration Number
NCT01903980
Lead Sponsor
Hospital Sirio-Libanes
Brief Summary

Epipericardial fat necrosis is a benign and self-limited condition that mainly curses with acute pleuritic chest pain and therefore must be an important differential diagnosis for patients in emergency department (ED). The knowledge of characteristics symptoms and correct management may avoid misdiagnosis or mistakes with other severe conditions like pulmonary embolism, pericarditis or acute coronary disease.

Despite the importance of this entity, only fewer than 40 cases have been reported since 1957, when the condition was first described.

We have seen a couple of similar cases in our institution during a short period of time, and we suspect that these numbers doesn't mean the real prevalence of epipericardial fat necrosis, so maybe this condition could be underdiagnosed. Instead, there isn't a study that tried to estimate an incidence of this entity.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • patients with imaging criteria of EFN (defined as a round fat attenuation lesion with peripheral stranding located in the epipericardial fat)
Exclusion Criteria
  • no exclusion criteria

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
EFN CasesNo intervention. It is a retrospective studyCases of patients with epipericardial fat necrosis CT findings
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Determinate the incidence of epipericardial fat necrosis18 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Identify misdiagnosed cases of epipericardial fat necrosis18 months

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Hospital Sirio Libanes

🇧🇷

Sao paulo, Brazil

Hospital Sirio-Libanes

🇧🇷

Sao Paulo, Brazil

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath