Epipericardial Fat Necrosis with Progressive Calcification: a Case Report

Abstract

Epipericardial fat necrosis is a rare, benign, self-limiting condition that can mimic the life-threatening causes of acute chest pain. Diagnosis relies primarily on chest computed tomography (CT), which typically reveals a well-defined ovoid fatty nodule at the cardiophrenic angle. Calcification in epipericardial fat necrosis is rare, with only two cases previously reported. This study reports the case of a 32-year-old female patient with persistent left-sided chest pain and progressive calcification observed on CT over two years, which was confirmed histologically. This case highlights the potential for chronic epipericardial fat necrosis to develop calcification, similar to the fat necrosis observed in the breast and epiploic appendages.