Rare presentation of a giant occipital lipoma: A case report

Abstract

Lipoma is a benign tumour arising from adipose tissue and is the most common mesenchymal tumour. We report a rare case of a large occipital lipoma in a 70 year old patient with a 20 year history of a slowly growing, painless occipital mass. On examination, the mass was soft, mobile, and about 10 cm in size. Ultrasound showed a well-defined, hypoechoic, non-vascular subcutaneous mass measuring around 11 cm, suggesting a lipoma. As the findings supported a benign nature of the mass, surgical excision under local anaesthesia was performed. The dissection was completed with meticulous haemostasis, allowing for complete removal of the tumour without any notable complications, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Lipomas are often diagnosed clinically, but radiological tests can help with larger lesions. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment since the presence of a pseudocapsule makes it relatively simple. Our case highlights that this tumour can grow large in unusual locations and that complete surgical excision gives a satisfactory outcome and prevents recurrence.