An exceptionally large giant Lipoma of the hand

Abstract

Lipomas are benign tumours that consist of mature adipocytes. They are the commonest soft tissue tumours, most frequently seen in the trunk and proximal extremities. Lesions in the hand are uncommon, and giant lipomas of the hand, defined as greater than 5 cm in size, are particularly rare. We present a case of an exceptionally large giant lipoma of the hand, presenting as an extremely large inconvenient swelling of the palm in a 67-year-old woman. The diagnosis of lipoma was suggested via ultrasonography, and confirmed via MRI and histology. The lesion was successfully excised with no postoperative neurovascular deficit. The excised lesion measured 8×6×3 cm, one of the largest giant lipomas of the hand reported to date. When patients present with large lesions such as these a malignant cause must always be considered, and appropriate early imaging is essential when assessing these patients. © 2013 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.