[An adult case of intrathoracic chest wall type lipoma by VATS resection]

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman without symptoms was pointed out an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film taken at the mass survey. Image diagnosis led to intrathoracic chest wall type lipoma. The tumor was surgically removed by video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and the diagnosis of lipoma pathohistologically. VATS resection was an useful procedure for intrathoracic lipoma because VATS itself must be less invasive and lipoma was not invasive. CT and MRI were useful for evaluation of extent of tumor, but not effective for differential diagnosis of liposarcoma from lipoma. So surgical resection by VATS should be considered, if possible.