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Congenital lumbosacral lipomas.

Congenital lumbosacral lipomas can be responsible for progressive defects. The general feeling is that tethering of roots, filum, or cord probably explains this evolution, and that untethering of these structures could prevent late deterioration. Like the vast majority of neurosurgeons, we too have routinely and systematically operated on lumbosacral lipomas, even in the absence of neurological deficits. This policy stemmed from our belief that spontaneous neurological deterioration was frequent, recovery from preoperative deficits rare, and surgery both efficient and benign in nature. After 22 years of experience, we felt that it was necessary to review our series of 291 lipomas (38 lipomas of the filum and 253 of the conus) operated on from 1972 to 1994. To reassess the value of prophylactic surgery, we attempted an accurate evaluation of (1) the risk of pathology, (2) the risks involved in surgery, (3) the postoperative outcome with respect to preoperative deficits, and (4) the postoperative outcome in asymptomatic patients at 1 year and at maximum follow-up. Special attention was paid to 93 patients whose postoperative follow-up was more than 5 years (average 8.7, median 8, range 5-23 years). Of these 93 patients, 39 were asymptomatic preoperatively (7 with lipoma of the filum and 32 with lipoma of the conus). Lipomas of the filum and of the conus are entirely different lesions and were studied separately. In 6 cases prenatal diagnosis had been possible. The mean age at surgery was 6.4 years. Low back skin stigmata were present in 89.4% of cases. Preoperative neurological deficits existed in 57% of the patients and were congenital in 22%. Clinical signs and symptoms recorded were pain in 13.3% of the patients and/or neurological deficits affecting sphincter (52%), motor (27.6%) and sensory (22.4%) functions. Deficits were progressive in 22.4% of cases, slowly progressive in 58.8% of these and rapidly progressive in the remaining 41.2%. In 36 patients (13.2%) the lipomas were seen to grow either subcutaneously or intraspinally. Among these patients, 21 were infants, 2 were obese adolescents, and 10 were pregnant women. The metabolism of the fat within the lipomas was studied in 11 patients and found to be similar to that at other sites. Lipomas were associated with various other malformations, either intra- or extraspinal. These associated anomalies were rare in the case of lipomatous filum (5.2%) but frequent with lipomas of the conus, except for intracranial malformations (3.6%). Therapeutic objectives were spinal cord untethering and decompression, sparing of functional neural tissue and prevention of retethering. Procedures used to achieve these goals were subtotal removal of the lipoma, intraoperative monitoring, duroplasty, and sometimes closure of the placode. Histologically, lipomas consisted of normal mature fat. However, 77% of them also included a wide variety of other tissues, originating from ectoderm, mesoderm, or entoderm. This indicates that lipomas are either simple or complex teratomas. The results of the study are as follows. (1) Surgery was easy and safe when performed for treatment of lipomas of the filum (no complications), but difficult and hazardous in the case of lipomas of the conus (20% local, 3.9% neurological complications). (2) All types of deficit could be improved by surgery, which was beneficial in all cases of lipoma of the filum and 50% of cases of lipoma of the conus. (3) In asymptomatic patients long-term surgical results depended on the anatomical type of the lipoma. They were excellent in lipomas of the filum. In lipomas of the conus they were good in the short term but eroded with time. At more than 5 years of follow-up only 53.1% of the patients were still free of symptoms. (4) Reoperations were performed in 16 patients (5.5%), 5 (31.2%) of whom improved postoperatively, while in 7 (43.7%) progression stopped, in 3 (18.7%) deterioration continued and in 1 (6.2%) the condition was wor

Adolescent↗

Multiple spindle cell lipomas: a report of 7 familial and 11 nonfamilial cases.

Spindle cell lipoma, a variant of a benign lipoma, usually occurs as a solitary, subcutaneous, circumscribed lesion in the posterior back, neck, or shoulders of older men. Multiple lesions are exceedingly rare. To our knowledge, there have been no previous series reported of patients with multiple subcutaneous spindle cell lipomas. We examine the clinicopathologic findings of a group of patients with multiple spindle cell lipomas, including seven with a familial occurrence of this disease. The Soft Tissue Registry of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the consultation files of one of the authors (S.W.W.) from the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan were searched for patients with multiple spindle cell lipomas. All patients' records, clinical history, and pathology were reviewed. All patients had a minimum of two tumors that met strict morphologic criteria for spindle cell lipoma. Pleomorphic cells, typical of pleomorphic lipoma, were observed in some cases and were acceptable as part of the spectrum of spindle cell lipomas. Associated lesions, family history, ethnic background, daily habits, and natural progression of disease were recorded and compared. Eighteen patients in our files met the criteria for multiple spindle cell lipomas; 4 of the 18 patients were from the same family. Three additional patients had a family history of multiple spindle cell lipomas. The ratio of patients with multiple spindle cell lipomas to all patients with spindle cell lipoma in the two consultation files was 0.5 and 3%, respectively. All of the patients in our study were male; three had a family history of females with less severe disease (fewer and smaller spindle cell lipomas); however, no material from these female patients was available for review. All but four patients presented in their sixth through eighth decades of life; yet, several older patients stated that their first lesion occurred in their fifth decade. Patients had between 2 and >220 lesions, which usually commenced on the posterior neck or back, commonly followed by additional bilateral lesions on the shoulders and upper torso. The natural history of this disease revealed development of multicentric lesions over several years, for both familial and nonfamilial cases. The tumors became more cellular as the disease progressed, often with features of pleomorphic lipoma; however, no patients developed spindle cell liposarcoma. Multiple spindle cell lipomas are rare. The clinical presentation may mimic Madelung's disease (symmetrical lipomatosis). As mentioned above, some cases are familial. Genetic predisposition must be further examined. There appears to be no common ethnic background, environmental exposure, medical condition, or syndrome of associated lesions with multiple spindle cell lipomas.

Adult↗

[Intestinal occlusion due to a colonic lipoma. Apropos 2 cases].

Lipomas occur through the intestinal tract, from the hypopharynx to the rectum, the colon having the highest incidence, where lipomata are the commonest benign neoplasm after adenomata. Nevertheless they are uncommon. CASE REPORT. 1) A 68-year-old man presented as an emergency with abdominal pain associated with bowel obstruction. He had a 2 to 3 month history of intermittent right-sided abdominal pain, constipation spontaneously resolved. At laparotomy there was a mass of the transverse colon, next hepatic flexure. A right hemicolectomy was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery. Histologic examination showed a lipoma of the submucosal plane. 2) A 65-year-old man presented as an emergency with lower abdominal pain associated with a prolapsed rectal polyp. He had 1 month history of passing fresh blood per rectum. Ap ast colonoscopy revealed a large polypoid lesion in the descending colon. Transanal examination revealed a polypoid lesion with a maximum diameter of 4 cm, acting as an intussuseptum. Transanal polypectomy was performed. At laparotomy there was an intussuseptum of the descending colon into the rectum: a left hemicolectomy was performed. Histology showed the polyp to be a submucosal lipoma. DISCUSSION. Lipomas are the most common benign nonepithelial tumors of the colon. Lipomata of the large bowel are reported as incidental findings in 0.3-0.5% of cases in large series of autopsies. In the wall of the intestine most lie in the submucosal plane, less frequently they are found in the subserosal plane. The commonest site for symptomatic solitary large bowel lipoma is the ascending colon, including the caecum, followed by the transverse colon, including both hepatic and splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum. The peak incidence for lipomata of the large bowel is in fifth-sixth decade. Colonic lipomas are generally asymptomatic but occasionally patients may have intermittent crampy abdominal pain secondary to intussusception of a pedunculated lipoma or with intermittent fresh rectal bleeding. On barium enema lipomas appear circular, ovoid, well demarcated, and smooth. A barium enema showing a relatively radiolucent mass, caused by the radiolucency of fat, is suggestive of a lipoma. The water enema, with water as the contrast agent, accentuates the difference in density between a lipoma and surrounding tissues. Another characteristic feature of lipomas on barium enema is said to be their fluctuation in size and shape during the study: "squeeze sign". Lipomas of the large bowel can be seen, however, by colonoscopy. On computerized tomography scan the lipoma has a uniform appearance and density. In expert hands pedunculated and sessile lesions can be removed endoscopically, but often large bowel lipomata are treated on the basis of a presumptive malignant diagnosis with exploratory laparotomy. CONCLUSION. Colonic lipomas, although unusual, continue to present difficulties in the preoperative differentiation between malignant and benign colonic neoplasm. Two cases of colonic lipomas are reported.

Aged↗

Fibrohistiocytic lipoma: twelve cases of a previously undescribed benign fatty tumor.

A lipoma with a spindled proliferation within it, resembling known (myo)fibroblastic lesions such as fibrous histiocytoma or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, (ie, fibrohistiocytic lipoma), has not been previously reported. This tumor varies from other classic lipoma variants, including spindle cell lipoma, myolipoma, angiolipoma, and fibrolipoma. We examine the clinicopathologic findings of this new lipoma variant. The Soft Tissue Pathology Registry of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology was searched for patients with "lipoma with fibrohistiocytic proliferation." Lesions that were better classified as other entities were excluded. Patient slides and clinical history, including associated lesions, family history, duration of symptoms, history of trauma, natural progression, and treatments, were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on cases with available material (n = 6). Twelve patients with fibrohistiocytic lipoma were included. All tumors revealed a well-distributed quilt-like proliferation or solid focus of slightly plump to relatively bland spindled cells with collagenous stroma in short fascicular and storiform growth patterns. These spindled cells resembled those seen in either fibrous histiocytoma or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. However, the spindled proliferation was all within a well-circumscribed lipoma. The lesions lack the dermal involvement or plump pleomorphism of fibrous histiocytoma and the dermal involvement or infiltrative growth pattern of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The fatty component demonstrated heterogeneously sized adipocytes, as those seen in other lipomas. Inflammation and hemosiderin were minimal. Mast cells were not identified. The tumors were typically found in the subcutis of the trunk of men (10 of 12; one each on the wrist and leg; mean age, 31 years). The average size of the lesions was 3.0 cm, and they were present for a mean duration of 10 months prior to surgical excision. One patient had two concurrent lesions; all others had solitary tumors. Another patient had a intracranial dermoid cyst removed during childhood. Four patients had a personal or family history of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, or myocardial infarction. There was no history of antecedent trauma. Cases studied were positive for vimentin, calponin (5 of 5), CD34 (3 of 5), and occasionally KP-1 or lysozyme in the spindled component, and all cases studied were negative for the actins, caldesmon, S-100 protein, desmin, cytokeratins, and epithelial membrane antigen. Although the actins were negative in our laboratory, the more sensitive calponin positivity suggests myofibroblastic phenotype of the spindled component of this lesion. CD34-positive fibroblasts were present in three of five cases. Of eight patients with follow-up, there were no recurrences; all patients were alive and free of disease over a mean of 10 years (range, 2 months to 31 years). We have identified a lipoma variant, fibrohistiocytic lipoma, that has not been previously described. In our experience the morphology and calponin positivity suggest myofibroblastic phenotype for the spindled cells, within a lipoma. This entity can be distinguished from fibrous histiocytoma, fibromatosis, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, spindle cell lipoma and other lipoma, and liposarcoma variants.

Adult↗

Intracranial lipomas: importance of localization.

Intracranial lipomas are rare congenital malformations. They are usually pericallosal asymptomatic midline lesions. Other brain malformations are often seen in association with intracranial lipomas. We describe the findings of imaging studies, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and MR angiography, along with a brief review of the literature. The frequency and the spectrum of the associated brain malformations are also discussed. We retrospectively reviewed CT and MR findings of 24 patients (14 female, 10 male, mean age 38.6 years) diagnosed with intracranial lipoma between December 2000 and June 2004 in two different radiology departments. Seventeen of the patients were diagnosed using cranial MR and seven with cranial CT. The CT density of all lesions was measured. Imaging characteristics of lipomas, morphological findings and associated malformations were described. The intracranial locations of the lipomas were left-sided quadrigeminal cistern (n=3), right-sided quadrigeminal cistern (n=4), interpeduncular cistern (n=1), sylvian fissure (n=3), interhemispheric fissure (n=3), choroid plexus (n=2), intercerebellar fissure (n=3), corpus fornicis (n=1) and the periphery of the corpus callosum (n=4). Eighteen of the intracranial lipomas were tubulonodular; six were curvilinear. Associated anomalies were observed in six patients. All of the patients with sylvian fissure lipoma had seizures. The two preferential sites of intracranial lipomas were pericallosal and dorsal mesencephalic. Most intracranial lipomas are found incidentally during neuroradiological investigations. CT and MR examination usually lead to the diagnosis, because of the very low attenuation values of lipomas on CT and the short T1 and T2 on MR. Midline anomalies and other malformations such as aneurysms are frequently associated with intracranial lipomas. Careful radiologic evaluation is therefore necessary to evaluate associated pathologies. Sylvian fissure lipomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

MRI findings in 32 consecutive lipomas using conventional and advanced sequences.

Intracranial lipomas are histologically benign and usually incidental magnetic resonance imaging findings that must be differentiated from ominous lesions. The authors describe 32 lipomas in 30 patients using conventional spin-echo (CSE) T1-weighted images (T1WI), CSE proton density (PDWI), CSE T2-weighted images (T2WI), fast spin-echo (FSE) T2WI, and FSE fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Lipomas occurred most commonly in the trigonal choroid plexus, cerebral convexity, pericallosal, and quadrigeminal cistern regions. Lipomas were hyperintense on CSE T1WI and of variable appearance on CSE PDWI and CSE T2WI. Lipomas were isointense to hyperintense on FSE T2WI and hyperintense on FLAIR. Chemical shift artifact (CSA) usually was present on either CSE PDWI or CSE T2WI but was not seen on FSE images. One patient had intracranial hypotension associated with a large convexity lipoma. The authors conclude that lipomas appear different on CSE T2WI than on FSE T2WI. CSE PDWI and CSE T2WI are complementary in detecting CSA. The lack of CSA being detected in lipomas on FSE images most likely relates to inherent bandwidth differences compared with those of CSE. The hyperintense appearance of lipomas on FSE FLAIR and FSE T2WI may be confused with subacute hematomas. The authors recommend that if CSE technique by itself is used to exclude lipomas (in centers that are not using FSE), then T1WI, PDWI, and T2WI usually are sufficient. For centers using FSE routinely, fat saturation or CSE sequences also may be needed to exclude lipomas. Finally, the authors' series suggests that intracranial lipomas may occur in lateral locations more frequently than reported previously.

Artifacts↗

Spinal lipomas in children.

Spinal cord lipomas are a common cause of cord tethering that can lead to progressive neurological defects. The role of prophylactic surgery for spinal lipomas has recently been questioned. Between 1985 and 1999, 59 children underwent a total of 69 surgical procedures at the Birmingham Children's Hospital in Birmingham, UK. The spinal lipomas were classified into: 18 terminal, 17 transitional, 6 dorsal and 18 filum lipomas - including 12 who had a typical thickened filum terminale. At the first operation, 19 patients (32%) were asymptomatic, and 40 patients (68%) presented with symptoms. Surgical indications in the asymptomatic group included the presence of a dermal sinus tract or syrinx. Prophylactic surgery was undertaken in selected cases. The mean total follow-up for the group since the first surgical procedure was 61.8 months (range: 7.0-203.0 months). In the asymptomatic group, 26% of the patients had late neurological deterioration. Of the 14 patients with asymptomatic conus lipomas, 3 (21%) developed sphincter dysfunction and motor problems at long-term follow-up. In the symptomatic group, 68% improved, 20% remained unchanged, and 12% had late neurological deterioration. None of the 18 patients with symptomatic filum lipoma deteriorated postoperatively. However, 39% had bladder dysfunction, 54% had neuro-orthopaedic deformity, and only 15% returned to overall normal function at latest follow-up. Of the 27 patients with symptomatic conus lipomas, 67% improved, 15% remained stable, and 18% had late neurological deterioration. However, 74% had bladder dysfunction, 67% had neuro-orthopaedic deformity, and 45% had motor problems at long-term follow-up. Spinal lipomas can cause progressive neurological deficits irrespective of spinal untethering surgery. This study demonstrates that filum and conus lipomas have similar clinical presentation, but differ in their outcome following surgery. Filum lipomas are 'benign', for which surgery is safe and effective. Conus lipomas are more difficult to manage. When asymptomatic, our results suggest that prophylactic surgery does provide some protection from future neurological deterioration. When symptomatic, conus lipoma surgery is effective in stopping further deterioration. Improvement in neurological function can occur, but few patients return to normal overall function, and pre-existing sphincter dysfunction is not significantly altered by surgery.

Adolescent↗

Osseous lipoma: eleven new cases and review of the literature.

This study describes the clinical features, radiological appearance, and treatment of 11 new cases of osseous lipoma and reviews 301 other cases in the literature. Osseous lipomas are classified by the site of origin: either within bone (intraosseous lipoma) or on the surface of bone (juxtacortical). Intraosseous lipomas include intramedullary and intracortical lesions. Surface lipomas include subperiosteal and parosteal lesions. The authors added their cases to those found in the literature. Intramedullary osseous lipoma (n=262) : the most common presenting symptoms were pain and swelling (69%). The most frequent localisations were the calcaneus (24%) and the femur (22%). On plain radiographs, these lesions consisted of a well-circumscribed radiolucent area with central calcification and a sclerotic rim, occasionally with cortical expansion. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the lesions had attenuation values and a signal intensity identical to that of adipose tissue. In symptomatic lesions and in cases with impending fracture, operative treatment was indicated. Parosteal lipoma (n=47): the most common presenting symptoms were local swelling and pain (58%). This lesion was most frequent in the radius (31%) and in the femur (23%). The classic radiographic appearance of parosteal lipoma was that of an exostosis-like bony prominence capped with a radiolucent layer of fat. CT-scan and MRI showed similar features. Intracortical (n=2) and subperiosteal lipomas (n=11): only a few cases were found in the literature. Their localisation differs from that of the other osseous lipomas. The differential diagnosis of osseous lipoma in general is extensive and should include benign and malignant tumours. Combination of radiological and histological data is essential to determine whether an osseous lipoma is actually present.

Adolescent↗

MRI findings in intramuscular lipomas.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spectrum of magnetic resonance (MR) findings of intramuscular lipoma. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: A retrospective review of 17 consecutive cases of intramuscular lipoma examined with MR imaging was undertaken. Features assessed included the size and margin of the mass; the homogeneity of the contents, including the presence or absence of intermingled muscle fibers; whether the mass was uninodular or multinodular; and the presence of linear structures between and within the tumor nodules. Three well-differentiated liposarcomas and one dedifferentiated liposarcoma associated with lipoma-like components were also studied to allow a comparison of the benign and malignant lesions. RESULTS: The diameter of the intramuscular lipomas varied from less than 3 cm to more than 10 cm. Ten of the intramuscular lipomas were homogeneous but the remaining seven were inhomogeneous with intermingled muscle fibers within the mass. The intramuscular lipomas were well defined in 12 cases, and infiltrative in five. In one case the margin of the lesion showed prominent infiltration of the surrounding muscle tissue. Of the 17 cases of intramuscular lipoma, 15 were composed of a single nodule, whereas three of four cases of liposarcoma were composed of multinodular masses. CONCLUSION: The MR findings of intramuscular lipoma varied from a small, single and homogeneous mass identical to ordinary (superficial) lipoma, to a large, inhomogeneous lesion with an infiltrative margin. The presence of infiltrative margins and intermingled muscle fibers in intramuscular lipoma indicates a benign lesion rather than malignancy. In addition, uninodularity of the mass is helpful in differentiating intramuscular lipoma from well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Adolescent↗

Surgical experience of 120 patients with lumbosacral lipomas.

The surgical experience of 120 patients with lumbosacral lipomas is described. 47 of 120 patients were preoperatively found to be neurologically intact, the remaining 73 patients presented with various neurological signs including reflex changes, sensory disturbances, muscle weakness and sphincter problems. Neuro-imagings allowed a classification of lumbosacral lipomas into five types: (1) dorsal type; (2) caudal type; (3) combined type; (4) filar type; and (5) lipomyelomeningocele. Although all 120 patients underwent untethering of the spinal cord, the nerve roots passing through the lipoma itself and the neural tissues protruding externally to the spinal canal, respectively, tended to prevent satisfactory surgical removal of the lipoma in combined type lipomas and lipomyelomeningoceles. During 8.96 years of a mean postoperative follow-up period, there was no significant deterioration in most of the patients and some patients even improved in function. However, two patients with combined type lipomas developed neurological deterioration just after surgery, and five (two dorsal, two caudal and one combined type lipomas) did in the fashion of a late-onset. There are two different patient groups of lumbosacral lipomas; one group (caudal and filar type lipomas, and most of dorsal type lipomas) in whom the surgical anatomy is simple and satisfactory untethering surgery could be done without risk, and another (combined type lipomas and lipomyelomeningocele) in whom surgery would be accompanied with some risk and sometimes complete untethering could not be achieved because of the complicated anatomy of the lesion. Surgical difficulty of the latter group can be correlated with the increased frequency of neurological deterioration occurring just after the operation, but not of delayed one. Concerning prophylactic surgery for asymptomatic patients, the former group of patients are obviously good candidates, but the latter group is not.

Adolescent↗

MRI of dorsal mesencephalic lipomas.

We detected 23 intracranial lipomas using MRI. Among them were nine pericallosal lipomas, six lipomas at the dorsal surface of the midbrain, and eight in other locations. In this paper, six lipomas at the dorsal surface of the midbrain were analyzed. Five of these lipomas were in the quadrigeminal cistern and one in the left-sided quadrigeminal cistern. Excluding the smallest lipoma, five of the six lipomas had irregular margins and were broadly based on the surface of the midbrain. In these five cases, deformities of the brain parenchyma were observed adjacent to the lipomas. A mildly dilated ventricular system was observed in one of the largest lipomas in a quadrigeminal cistern. Based on their characteristic shapes and locations, we termed them "dorsal mesencephalic lipomas." Thus, the two preferential sites of intracranial lipomas were pericallosal and dorsal mesencephalic.

Adolescent↗

Lipoma of the oral and maxillofacial region: Site and subclassification of 125 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Lipomas and lipoma variants are common soft tissue tumors, but occur infrequently in the oral and maxillofacial region. In this study, we reviewed 125 lipomas in specific oral and maxillofacial locations. We wanted to examine and compare the clinicopathologic features of these tumors. Study design The records from the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Registry of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1970 to the present were searched for cases coded as "lipoma." This study included 125 cases based on location within the oral and maxillofacial region, benign histology, and available clinical information. Subcutaneous and intraosseous lipomas were excluded. The tumors were classified according to the most recent World Heath Organization classification for soft tissue tumors. RESULTS: Of 125 lipomas, 91 tumors occurred in males, 33 in female patients, and 1 of unknown gender. The mean age was 51.9 years, range 9-92 years. Four tumors occurred in pediatric patients (age <18 years). Specific anatomic sites within the oral and maxillofacial region included the parotid region (n=30); buccal mucosa (n=29); lip (n=21); submandibular region (n=17); tongue (n=15); palate (n=6); floor of mouth (n=5); and vestibule (n=2). The mean size of tumors was 2.2 centimeters, range 0.5 to 8.0 centimeters. The mean duration of the tumors prior to excision was 3.2 years, range 6 weeks to 15 years. Most patients presented with an asymptomatic, circumscribed mass. Grossly, most tumors were described as pink and smooth, occasionally mucoid. Histologically, the tumors were subclassified as classic lipomas (n=62); spindle cell/pleomorphic lipomas (n=59); fibrolipoma (n=2), and chondroid lipoma (n=2). Fourteen tumors exhibited secondary changes, such as fat necrosis, atrophy, and prominent hyalinization; 23 tumors were histologically confirmed to be intramuscular. CONCLUSIONS: Lipomas of the oral and maxillofacial region occur most commonly in adult males in the parotid region, followed closely by the buccal mucosa. These tumors are uncommon in children. Interestingly, spindle cell lipomas are common in this region and comprise the majority of our parotid and lip tumors. Angiolipomas were absent in this anatomic region in this study. Secondary changes and atrophy should not be confused with the malignant histologic features of a liposarcoma.

Adolescent↗

Lipomas of the cord and round ligament.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, significance, and anatomy of spermatic cord and round ligament lipomas. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of 280 hernia repairs on 217 patients performed by a single surgeon (M.E.A.) from January 1996 to January 2000. The incidence of cord lipoma and relationship to inguinal hernia were evaluated. Further, when identified at the time of laparoscopic preperitoneal hernia repair, the anatomy of the lipomas was studied both at the time of surgery and again on review of videotapes. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-nine laparoscopic and 81 open inguinal hernia repairs were performed on 192 male patients and 25 female patients. Sixty-three lipomas of the cord were identified for an incidence of 22.5%. Overall, 18 cord lipomas were found in groins without hernias, and these were identified before surgery in 10 (2 by physical examination, 7 by groin ultrasound, and 1 by magnetic resonance imaging). The remaining nine were misidentified as a hernia before surgery. Fourteen of these patients presented with groin pain and four were asymptomatic. Forty-five lipomas were associated with hernias and were characterized as a hernia by examination in 43 instances. There were 32 (51%) cord lipomas associated with indirect hernias, 11 (17%) with direct hernias, and 1 each with pantaloon and femoral hernias. Nine lipomas were found in women, seven presenting with groin pain and six found without an associated peritoneal defect. Two patients presented with symptomatic cord lipomas after laparoscopic hernia repair. A lipoma of the cord is herniated fat that appears to originate from the retroperitoneal fat outside and posterior to the internal spermatic fascia and protrudes through the internal ring lateral to the cord. They are generally not visible by transperitoneal inspection unless manually reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Lipomas of the cord and round ligament occur with a significant incidence. They can cause hernia-type symptoms in the absence of a true hernia (associated with a peritoneal defect). They should be considered in the patient with groin pain and normal examination results. They can be easily overlooked at the time of laparoscopic hernia repair, and this can lead to an unsatisfactory result.

Adolescent↗