[Lipomas of the digestive tract. Review of the literature apropos of 5 cases].

In addition to presentation of five personal observations of lipomas of the digestive tract (1 esophageal, 3 gastric, 1 jejunal), the authors review over 1 400 cases published in the literature. No cases of degeneration were found. Esophageal lipomas are extremely rare (1.5 p. cent of digestive tract lipomas) and are often confused, prior to anatomical proof, with leiomyomas, which are much more frequent. Lipomas represent 3 to 5 p. cent of all benign tumors of the stomach; the most frequent site is the antrum and the average diameter is 5 cm. From a clinical standpoint, such tumors are asymptomatic unless they are of large size or peri-orificial. The radiologic diagnosis is usually a benign tumor, lipomas being diagnosed only rarely. Lipomas of the small intestine represent 13 to 15 p. cent of all benign tumors there; the preferential site is the ileum (49.6 p. cent), followed by the duodenum (23.4 p. cent). Clinical latency was associated with 43 p. cent of the cases reviewed. Barium examinations generally led to the diagnosis of a benign tumor but provided no etiological information. Lipomas constitute the most frequent benign tumor of the colon and rectum after adenomas. When compared with all other locations, the colon accounts for 51.1 p. cent of cases. No preferential site was observed within the colon itself, and multiple forms were seen in 14 p. cent of cases. Clinical latency was associated with 30.3 p. cent of the colo-rectal cases reviewed, and radiological exams were generally unable to diagnose lipomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)