A case of prominent epicardial fat mimicking a tumor on echocardiography

Epicardial fat may anteriorly produce an echo-free space that can be mistak en for pericardial fluid. We recently experienced a 67-year-old woman with prominent epicardial fat which was presented as an echogenic tumor-like mas s. She underwent open pericardiostomy to relieve large amount of pericardia l effusion, Operative findings revealed only prominent epicardial fat. Biop sy of the pericardial and fat tissues revealed an inflammation and normal f at cells without any malignant cell infiltration.