title: Giant Diaphragmatic Lipoma: Two Autopsy Case Reports and Review of the Literature.
abstract: Lipomas are common benign tumors most frequently found within the subcutaneous areas of the body. Deep-seated lipomas are rare and tend to be larger than cutaneous ones. Lipomas are rarely seen in the thoracic cavity, and they are usually located in the mediastinum, bronchiole, and lungs. Diaphragmatic lipomas have been occasionally reported in the literature, the first being described by Clark et al. in 1886. The authors report two rare cases of giant diaphragmatic lipoma incidentally found during forensic autopsies. In the first case, a Caucasian 85-year-old woman burned to death with another passenger, after her methane-fueled car collided with another car on a highway near Terni, Umbria, Italy. In the second case, a Caucasian 45-year-old man collapsed while walking through the countryside of Perugia. In either case, a large mass in the thorax was observed. The definitive pathologic diagnosis was giant intrathoracic diaphragmatic lipoma without evidence of malignancy. The authors also review the relevant literature and discuss differential diagnoses. These case reports contribute to the establishment of the actual incidence of diaphragmatic lipomas.
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margiotta
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carnevali
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lancia
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Siena, Viale Bracci, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabbrielli
authors.affiliation: Section of Legal Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacci
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: autopsy; deep-seated lipomas; diaphragmatic lipoma; differential diagnosis; forensic pathology; forensic science; giant intrathoracic lipoma