Giant lipoma of the transverse colon: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Colonic lipomas are benign adipose tumors which are usually submucosal. Small lesions are asymptomatic and may be detected incidentally. Large lipomas can cause symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
We report a case of symptomatic giant colonic lipoma


METHODS
A 67-year old woman was admitted to hospital with persistent abdominal pain, for which a barium enema showed a large polypoid mass occluding the lumen of the transverse colon. Colonoscopy revealed a tumor narrowing the bowel lumen of about 5 cm in diameter with a sessile appearance and ulcerated overlying mucosa. The possibility of colonic malignancy could not be precluded and an operative resection was performed. Pathological examination revealed a colonic lipoma. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient was free of symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of the possibility of colonic lipomas is important for clinicians in terms of evaluation of therapeutic regimen.
Mnif
Leila
L
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia.
Amouri
Ali
A
Masmoudi
Mohamed A
MA
Mezghanni
Amin
A
Gouiaa
Naourez
N
Boudawara
Tahia
T
Tahri
Nabil
N
D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis*