Unusual locations of lipoma: differential diagnosis of head and neck mass.

BACKGROUND

Lipomas are the most common benign neoplasm of mesenchymal origin and may arise in any location where fat is normally present. In the head and neck region, where only 13% of lipomas are seen, the posterior neck space is the most common site.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes two cases of lipoma that were unusually located in the parotid gland and in the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM).

DISCUSSION

Intraglandular lipoma of the parotid gland should be included as a rare possibility in the differential diagnosis of tumours involving the parotid gland. The extent of surgery should be determined at the time of operation with dual goals of complete mass resection, including normal tissue and facial nerve preservation. Also, intramuscuclar liopma of SCM is rare and should not be overlooked in the differential diagnosis. A thorough preoperative clinical, radiological and cytological examination should be performed to prevent recurrences due to incomplete removal of the tumour.