Tongue lipoma in an older male: A case report and literature review of patients with tongue lipoma reported in China

Abstract

Lipoma is the most common benign tumor that occurs at any region where adipose tissue is present. However, as the tongue is devoid of adipocyte it is an extremely rare site for a lipoma to develop, particularly in China. The present study reports the presence of a tongue lipoma in a 78-year-old man that measured 2.2×2.0×1.5 cm and was located on the left ventral region of the tongue. The tumor was completely excised, and subsequent to 4 years of follow-up, there was no recurrence of the lesion. In addition, the present study reviewed the literature concerning tongue lipomas in China and analyzed 18 other cases of patients with tongue lipomas in the past 30 years, between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2014.

Keywords: benign tumor; lipoma; oral lipoma; tongue.

Figure 1.

Tumor is located at the left ventral region of the tongue.

Figure 2.

Excised tumor appeared globular in shape and was encapsulated with a thin overlying mucosa.

Figure 3.

Microscopic examination revealed mature adipocytes arranged in lobules and separated by thin fibrous connective tissue. The histopathological diagnosis was lipoma.

Figure 4.

A week subsequent to the excision of the tumor, the wound had healed well and the stitches were removed.

Figure 5.

Tongue lipoma gender predilection, as reported in the 18 reviewed cases.

Figure 6.

Tongue lipoma age predilection, as reported in the 18 reviewed cases.

Figure 7.

Lipoma location on the tongue, as reported in the 18 reviewed cases.

Figure 8.

Histological classification of tongue lipoma, as reported in the 18 reviewed cases.