Intraosseous lipoma of mandible presenting as a swelling

Abstract

Lipomas are the most common form of benign mesenchymal tumors and are composed of mature adipocytes. They can occur anywhere in the body where fat is found and thus, called as the 'universal tumor' or the 'ubiquitous tumor'. Intraosseous lipomas (IOL) are among the rarest (0.1%) of primary bone tumors and are very rarely seen in head and neck bones. They have been subdivided based on the site of origin within bone, into intramedullary and intracortical. Of the two, few cases of intramedullary lipoma have been reported intraorally and none of the latter. Intraosseous lipomas are usually asymptomatic and are detected incidentally on radiographs taken for other complaints. Here, we report a case of intraosseous lipoma in the mandible presenting as a large swelling.

Keywords: Intracortical lipoma; intraosseous lipoma; mesenchymal tumors.

Figure 1

The pre-operative view shows a smooth, ovoid swelling on the lingual aspect of the mandible extending from mesial of 41 to 47

Figure 2

Cross-sectional mandibular occlusal radiograph shows cortical expansion with hazy radiopacity on the lingual surface of mandible extending from 41 to 47 region

Figure 3

Photomicrograph. The tumor is composed of numerous mature adipocytes with entrapped mature lamellated bone. No necrotic areas or dystrophic calcification are noted within the lesion. (H and E, stain; ×100 original magnification)

Figure 4

Photomicrograph showing thinned out cortical bone present at the periphery of the lesion (H and E, ×100 original magnification)