Successful Removal of a Intrathoracic Diaphragmatic Lipoma : A Case Report

Syed Al-Nahian, Mosharraf Hossain, Anwarul Anam Kibria, A.K.M. Razzaque,Asit Baran Adhikary, Md. Aftabuddin

Abstract:
Introduction: Lipomas are benign soft tissue tumor and can occur anywhere in
the body. However intrathoracic lipoma are extremely rare benign lesions. Most
of the patients remain asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed by imaging study.
Presentation of Case: A 55-year-old female housewife presented to our hospital
suffering from mild chest pain and mild shortness of breath for two months.
A subsequent chest X-ray and CT scans revealed a large homogeneous, fat
density mass occupying the lower half of the right lung field. Following surgical
resection the dull mass in pale yeallow color removed from diaphragm near the
cardiophrenic angle and histological analysis conûrmed it as a lipoma.
Discussion: Intrathoracic lipomas are very slow-growing benign tumors
usually without any symptom, which originate from the adipose tissue in
submesothelial layers of the pleura parietalis, diaphragm, mediastinaland
extrapericardial. They are common in obese people and fully encapsulate in
most cases. Chest X-ray and CT scans are the most helpful tests in the diagnosis
of intrathoracic lipomas. Though radiological follow up in asymptomatic cases
are advocated by some, most of the authors suggest complete surgical resection
to prevent recurrence and conversion to liposarcoma .
Conclusion: Complete enbloc removal of lipoma whenever possible, is the only deûnitive
treatment option. Local recurrence is fairly uncommon after adequate surgery.
Key words: Lipoma, Diaphragmatic, Thoracic lipoma.

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