Giant lipoma of the colon presenting as a case of adult intussusception: A case series

Abstract

Introduction and importanceLipoma of the intestine is one of the uncommon benign tumors of the alimentary tract first reported by Bauer in 1957. The peak incidence is usually seen between 50 and 60 years of age and more commonly in females. They are usually either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The occurrence of symptoms is mostly related to the diameter of the lesion. Presentation of caseWe present a single center consecutive case of three patients who had giant colonic lipomas presented with colonic intussusception. Two of the cases presented for the first time with an emergency condition: acute intestinal obstruction. The mode of presentation, diagnosis, and management outcome of colonic lipoma was assessed. DiscussionSymptomatic lipoma may present with non-specific abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, intussusception, and hemorrhage. The clinical diagnosis is usually challenging, given the non-specificity of symptoms of the disease. Computed tomography is considered to be a diagnostic modality of choice in recognizing the presence of lipoma. However, a definitive diagnosis of lipoma is usually obtained after a histopathologic examination of the resected specimen. The management of colonic lipoma depends on the size of the lesion and the presence or absence of symptoms. ConclusionColonic lipoma is a rare benign tumor that occurs in the elderly, frequently misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor. Despite the rarity of the disease, lipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of large bowel tumors and adult intussusception.