Background

Lipomas are benign and common soft-tissue tumours with many different clinical presentations. Surgical management can sometimes be tricky, and surgeons must keep in mind the potential risk of malignancy with large tumours.

Case presentation

We describe the case of a 90-year-old patient with a giant gluteal lipoma having evolved over more than 20 years. The patient was well aware of this slow-growing painless mass on his right hip but refused any treatment. He was addressed to our surgical consultation by his family doctor for lameness and unbalanced walking. (figure 1A, B).

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Figure 1

(A) Posterior view of the patient’s lipoma. (B) Lateral view of the patient’s lipoma.

Investigations

Even though a benign lipoma was clearly suspected, a CT scan was performed. However, the lesion was so large that it could not be scanned entirely (figure 2). The tumour-like lipoma seemed to be in contact with the sacrum, the tuber ischiadicum and the greater trochanter. Furthermore, there was a suspicion of an infiltration of the flexor’s muscles of the right leg. Vascularisation of the lipoma was mainly provided by an enlarged superior gluteal artery.

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Figure 2

CT scan of the right hip lipoma.

Treatment

After discussing the pros and cons of an intervention with the patient and his family, the decision was taken to remove the mass surgically. The patient was installed in a dorsal decubitus position (figure 3A). The operation resulted in the removal of a 30×60 cm 20 kg lipoma (figure 3B).

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Figure 3

(A) Dorsal decubitus surgical position. (B) Lipoma total dissection.

Outcome and follow-up

The pathology report confirmed that the tumour was benign. Skin was preserved in order to allow a functional reconstruction of the gluteal region. Wound management was simple, and follow-up was unremarkable. Additionally, the patient received intensive physiotherapy for walk recovery and after 5 weeks he could achieve completely independent walking.

Discussion

What makes this case interesting is the fact that even a benign pathology such as a lipoma progressed into a situation requiring delicate surgical management, both due to the technical aspect of the operation itself, and because of the patient’s advanced age.

With no difference in prevalence across genders and a 40–60 years old average age,1 lipomas are the most frequent benign soft-tissue tumours. Whether isolated or multiple, congenital or post-traumatic,2 lipomas are frequent in our daily routine; some studies mention the genetic implication in more than 50% of them.3 Even with minimal risk of malignant evolution, the first step of imaging should be ultrasonography,4 sometimes associated with MRI for large or deep tumours.5 Various treatments can be suggested for mechanical or aesthetic concerns. Surgery is the most appropriate treatment, associated with other techniques6 (suction, soft-tissue reconstruction, flap and so on).

Various pathologies imitating lipomas, such as lipomatosis or lipodystrophy, should be distinguished from it.7 The WHO gives a standard classification for all types of lipomas.8

Giant lipomas are a specific entity as their precise definition is only based on the general aspect of the tumour, with a specific size and weight cut-off given by Sanchez et al.9 In order for a lipoma to be called ‘giant’, the lesion must be at least 10 cm in one dimension or weigh a minimum of 1 kg. Based on recent literature, the case we report here is the second largest sub-cutaneous lipoma ever described (table 1).