Epipericardial fat pad necrosis: computed tomography findings and literature review

Abstract

Epipericardial fat necrosis is an unusual clinical condition of unknown etiology first reported in the literature in 1957. It presents as an acute onset of chest pain and a well-defined juxtacardiac mass. Computed tomographic findings of this condition demonstrate a fat-attenuation mass that resolves over time. We present a case of a 48-year-old man who presented with epipericardial fat necrosis followed over time with serial computed tomographic scans documenting resolution.