title: Gigantic primary lipoma of the diaphragm presenting with respiratory failure.
abstract: Primary diaphragmatic lipomas are rare. A 66-year-old female case is reported, with the unusual presentation of progressive dyspnoea leading to respiratory failure, mainly because of a large fatty mass occupying the base of the left hemithorax. The completely resected mass (16 x 14.5 x 5.5 cm) was a primary diaphragmatic lipoma. The literature is discussed. We recommend surgical exploration since the possibility of liposarcoma cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Department, 401 Army General Hospital, Athens, Greece. icp@hol.gr
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Papachristos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laoutides
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papaefthimiou
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Andrianopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003964:Diaphragm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*