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Case Reports
. 2024 Dec 27;2025(1):rjae817.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjae817. eCollection 2025 Jan.

Giant periscapular lipoma unmasked by post-bariatric surgery weight loss: a case report

Hussain Mohammad  1 , Suaad Almajed  1 , Norah Nawaf  1 , Nawar AlMulla  1 , Ali Lari  1 , Ali Jarragh  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Giant periscapular lipoma unmasked by post-bariatric surgery weight loss: a case report

Hussain Mohammad et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Giant lipomas, rare benign tumours composed of mature adipose tissue, represent only 1% of all lipomas, typically exceeding 10 cm in diameter or weighing over 1000 g. These tumours can cause nerve compression, discomfort, or functional impairment, necessitating surgical excision. We report a 52-year-old male with a giant intramuscular lipoma in the periscapular region, initially identified following significant weight loss after bariatric surgery. Clinical evaluation revealed a 15 × 20 cm mass, confirmed via computed tomography (CT) scan. Surgical excision was performed, followed by histopathological analysis, which confirmed a benign lipoma. Postoperative management was complicated by seroma formation, requiring drainage. This case underscores the importance of early diagnosis, imaging, and appropriate surgical management for large lipomas to prevent complications and recurrence while ensuring optimal cosmetic outcomes.

Keywords: case report; giant lipoma; intramuscular tumour; obesity; surgical excision; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial, commercial or personal competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Computed tomography scan: Coronal, sagittal, and axial planes of the lipoma.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Intraoperative imaging: Marking the incision, exposing the periscapular muscles, dissecting the lipoma, and displaying it over a drawn figure of the anatomy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Postoperative imaging: Fully healed surgical incision.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pathological assessment: Gross images of the specimen before and after dissection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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