Oral lipomas in a Brazilian population: a 10-year study and analysis of 450 cases reported in the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Lipomas are common benign mesenchymal neoplasms that rarely occur in the oral cavity and correspond to less than 4.4% of all benign oral soft tissue tumors. This study describes the clinical, radiological and histological features of cases of oral lipomas seen over a period of 10 years and compared the findings with those reported in the literature.


METHODS
All cases of oral lipomas seen between 1999 and 2009 were retrieved from the archives of the Stomatology Division of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. Age, gender, tumor location, clinical findings, duration, histological subtypes, and treatment outcome were recorded. In addition, the English-language literature was searched for studies published between 1966 and 2009.


RESULTS
Ten patients (6 women and 4 men) were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 53.4 years (range: 21- 73 years). The specific sites involved were the oral mucosa (n=5), vestibule (n=3), gingiva (n=1), and retromolar region (n=1). The mean size of the tumors was 1.94 cm (range 1.0 to 3.0 cm). Radiographically, only one case appeared as a radiolucent area on occlusal film. Microscopically, 4 cases were classified as simple lipoma, 4 as fibrolipoma, 1 as myxoid lipoma, and 1 as angiolipoma. The duration of the tumors ranged from 2 to 84 months, with a mean duration of 30.4 months. All cases were treated by simple surgical excision and there was no recurrence after a mean post-treatment period of 34.5 months. The findings were compared with 450 cases of oral lipomas reported in the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipomas continue to be an uncommon neoplasm of the oral cavity. Radiography is a valuable tool due to the possible occurrence of bone involvement. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice and recurrence is not expected.
Studart-Soares
Eduardo-Costa
EC
Division of Stomatology and Oral Surgery, Department of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. estudart@yahoo.com.br
Costa
Fábio-Wildson-Gurgel
FW
Sousa
Fabrício-Bitu
FB
Alves
Ana-Paula-Negreiros-Nunes
AP
Osterne
Rafael-Lima-Verde
RL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult