Sonographic Findings of Lipoma in the Neck

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the sonographic features of lipoma of the neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cases of 13 patients (35 to 70 years old, nine males and four females) with lipoma of the neck were retrospectively reviewed. Lipomas were confirmed pathologically in six patients, and by CT and MR in seven. RESULT: Lipomas were well-defined in 11 cases (85%), and elliptical shaped masses in 12 (92%) with the longest diameter parallel to the skin surface. As compared with adjacent muscles, 54% of all lipomas (n=7) were hyperechoic, 15% (n=2) were isoechoic and 31% (n=4) were hypoechoic. In 11 cases (85%), lipomas were insinuated into intermuscular space or were found between muscle and adjacent organs. CONCLUSION: The sonographic feature of lipoma of the neck are a well-defined elliptical shaped mass parallel to the skin surface, with linear echogenic lines and either insinuated into intermuscular space or lying between muscle and adjacent organs. The echogenicity of the mass varied.