GIANT LIPOMATOUS TUMORS OF THE THIGH

IBRAHIM H. KAFADAR¹ , MAHMUT ARGUN¹ , MEHMET HALICI¹ , IBRAHIM KARAMAN¹ , TURHAN OKTEN² , SERAP DOGAN³ , MITHAT ONER¹ , MUSTAFA OZTURK³

¹Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri - ² Department of Patholog

Introduction: Lipomas are the most common soft tissue tumors and they can occur anywhere in the body. They may rarely become to giant dimensions and they are called as “giant lipomas”. Giant lipomas are rare and they may also resemble to malignant soft tissue tumors. In this case they should be differentiated especially from liposarcomas. In this study we evaluated the treatment results of lipomatous tumors (giant lipomas and liposarcomas) of the thigh with their clinical, radiological, and histopathological features.

Materials and methods: Twelve patients with giant lipomatous tumor on thigh who underwent surgical excision were included to the study. Patients were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively. To rule out distant metastasis, thoracic and abdominal computed tomography (CT) were performed. Initially, incisional biopsy was performed, and according to the histopathological results, these giant lipomatous tumors were surgically excised.

Results: There were 6 males and 6 females with an average age of 55,6 years. Histopathological examinations revealed the lesions to be giant lipomas in nine patients, and liposarcomas in the remaining three patients. Because of the dimensions or weight of the lipomas, they were accepted as “giant lipomas”. The heaviest lipoma was 1976 g. After surgical excision patients were followed up with an average of 24,3 months. During the follow up of the patients, local recurrences and distant metastasis were not observed.

Conclusion: Giant lipomas are rarely seen tumors. Differential diagnosis of giant lipoma and liposarcoma may cause difficulties. In the presence of suspicion, biopsy should be performed. Surgical treatment modality also should be planned according to the histopathological results. Marginal surgical excision is adequate for giant lipomas, but as wide as possible surgical excision with negative surgical margins should be performed for liposarcomas to reduce the rate of local recurrences.