Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 424-427, May 2008

Large Pedunculated Lipoma of the Esophagus

  • Chih-Hsin Liu
    • ,
  • Huang-Chou Chang

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Huang-Chou Chang, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386 Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yih-Gang Goan

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Received 6 March 2007; received in revised form 25 June 2007; accepted 7 August 2007.

Article Outline

Pedunculated lipoma of the esophagus is rare and easily misdiagnosed in clinical practice. The presenting symptoms of esophageal lipoma are dysphagia, regurgitated mass and persistent sensation of a lump in the throat. The most frequent location of the tumor pedicle is the upper esophageal sphincter. Although the lipoma is pathologically benign, if it is large enough, it may cause airway obstruction secondary to the mechanical pressure to the larynx when the tumor is regurgitated. We present the case of a 67-year-old man who had the symptoms of dysphagia, nausea and vomiting. Esophagography and chest computed tomography revealed that he might have an esophageal submucosal or intraluminal tumor mass. Panendoscopy showed a pedunculated tumor mass within the esophageal lumen with its peduncle arising from the cervical esophagus. The tumor mass measured 9.0 × 4.7 × 2.5 cm in size. Thoracic approach via the right chest wall was performed for confirmation. After removal of the intraluminal mass, the patient's symptoms dramatically improved. Pathology showed a lipoma arising from the submucosa of the esophagus.

Key Words:  esophageal neoplasm , esophagus , lipoma , polyp

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PII: S0929-6646(08)60109-6

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(08)60109-6

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 107, Issue 5 , Pages 424-427, May 2008

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