Giant lipoma of the transverse colon: a case report and review of the literature

ABSTRACT

Colonic lipomas are benign adipose tumors which are usually submucosal. Small lesions are asymptomatic and may be detected incidentally. Large lipomas can cause symptoms. We report a case of symptomatic giant colonic lipoma. A 67-year old woman was admitted to hospital with persistent abdominal pain, for which a barium enema showed a large polypoid mass occluding the lumen of the transverse colon. Colonoscopy revealed a tumor narrowing the bowel lumen of about 5 cm in diameter with a sessile appearance and ulcerated overlying mucosa. The possibility of colonic malignancy could not be precluded and an operative resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed a colonic lipoma. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient was free of symptoms. Awareness of the possibility of colonic lipomas is important for clinicians in terms of evaluation of therapeutic regimen