Giant lipoma of the breast

Abstract

Lipomas are benign mesenchymal tumors that develop in areas of abundant adipose tissue. Due to the fatty composition of the breast, difficulties in diagnosis, treatment, and reconstruction are often encountered. We report a case of a 55-year-old female with a giant tumor of the right breast that comprised most of its mass, causing breast asymmetry. A thorough preoperative evaluation, followed by an uneventful difficult surgical resection and reconstruction, resulted in diagnosis of a benign lipoma. The case prompted this report because of its challenging size, location, diagnosis, and reconstructive solution.

Keywords: Breast diseases; Breast neoplasms; Lipoma; Mammaplasty.

Fig. 1

Preoperative appearance Ptotic breasts with marked asymmetry. A large swollen right breast has a round contour; no palpable masses were identified. No abnormal skin changes were present. Benign breast hypertrophy associated with breast asymmetry was diagnosed.

Fig. 2

Removal of lipoma Inferior pedicle, wise pattern reduction mammoplasty. Through an incision, the lipoma, covered by a thin capsule, was removed. The tumor comprised most of the breast mass, resulting in a volume deficit with excess skin.

Fig. 3

Excised specimen Morphologic examination of giant lipoma of the breast. A lipoma weighing 2,500 g, with 24 cm×20 cm×6 cm dimensions was excised.

Fig. 4

Appearance at six months postoperatively Symmetry and a good aesthetic outcome was achieved.