Pseudotumor of the Right Atrium

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Abstract
A right atrial filling defect demonstrated by vena cavography and angiocardiography simulated a primary cardiac neoplasm in a patient with lupus nephrosis. At autopsy the filling defect was demonstrated to be a fibrous and redundant interatrial septum. There are several functional causes (e.g. , streaming effects) and organic lesions (e.g., tumors, thrombi and congenital defects) which may produce the appearance of intracavitary filling defects by angiocardiography but are not distinguished by this procedure. Pathological lesions of the cardial septa are discussed, including potentially correctable lesions. Awareness of many possible causes of an intracavitary filling defect will aid in the proper interpretation of this radiologic finding and will perhaps obviate unnecessary surgical procedures.