Infiltrating lipoma of neck

Abstract

Lipomas are common benign soft tissue neoplasms of mature adipose tissue. The peak incidence is usually in the fifth or sixth decade of life, while occurrence in children is very uncommo. Multiple presentations may occur in about 5% patients. The tumors may or encapsulated may not be. In a review of more than 1000 benign tumors of adipose tissue, over 80% were ordinary lipomas; nearly all the others were angiolipomas, intramuscular lipomas, or lipoblastomas. Other types accounted for less than 2% of all benign lipomatous neoplasms. The occurrence in the head and neck is relatively rare. Only 25% lipomas arise from the head and neck. Lipomas of the anterior neck are extremely rare. They may extend posteriomedially between the sternocleidomastoid and digastric muscles. Most commonly, they arise at the posterior subcutaneous neck. The deep lipoma is usually larger and deforms the surrounding tissue as compared to superficial lipomas which are generally more circumscribed.