Intracranial lipoma. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Eleven cases of intracranial lipoma, diagnosed during life by computerized tomography (CT) scanning, are presented. Clinical symptoms related to the lesions were present in eight. The CT scan established the diagnosis of intracranial lipoma on the basis of typical x-ray absorption and location. Only dermoid cysts and teratomas may produce a similar CT appearance. In cases of intracranial lipoma, a direct surgical approach is seldom necessary, although in certain locations, lipomas may cause blockage of cerebrospinal fluid pathways and require a shunt operation.