Lipoma of the colon. A report of 22 cases.

A series of 22 cases of lipomas of the colon is presented. Fourteen patients had small (mean size, 12.5 mm), asymptomatic colon lipomas which were diagnosed incidently. In four of these patients, more than one lipoma was found. Eight patients had one larger (mean size, 70.5 mm) symptomatic lipoma. The symptomatic patients were older (mean age, 64.3 years) than the asymptomatic patients (mean age, 54.7 years). While small lipomas do not generally give symptoms, it seems that the symptoms of larger lipomas are mainly due to mechanical interference in colonic passage or ulceration of the mucosa that covers the lipoma.