A Curious Case of Giant Lipoma

A lipoma is a fatty tissue tumor presenting as a painless, slow growing mass, that can affect any part of the body rich in adipose tissue. Lipomas can be present in the thigh, shoulder, trunk, etc. They are usually small in size. The lipomas that are larger may, sometimes, transform into malignancy. It may also hamper the quality of life as it can cause pain, prevent comfortable sleep, compress structures within its anatomical vicinity, lead to infections and so forth. Mass localization may also restrict body functions. Lipoma is described as “giant” beyond 1 kg of weight and 10 cm diameter. The diagnosis is primarily clinical. In this case, a 75-year old man presented with a huge swelling over his back, ranging from the left superior border of scapula to the left lumbar region, that has evolved over 15 years. The size and location of the lipoma prevented the patient from lying supine, sitting erect and made dressing problematic. The patient became extremely conscious of his physical appearance and preferred not to step out of his house. After examination, the patient was taken into surgery where a 35cm × 23cm × 22cm mass weighing 3476 grams was successfully excised. Cosmetic and functional results of the surgery were excellent leaving the patient satisfied. Post-surgery the patient reports an improved quality of life. Keywords: Giant lipoma, Tumor