[Infiltrating lipomas of the face. Reporting five clinical cases]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Lipomas are common benign tumors, typically superficial on limbs and trunk.
• Infiltrative lipomas, occurring subfascially (intramuscular or intermuscular), are rare.
• Distinguishing infiltrative lipomas from liposarcoma is crucial due to similar locations.

Observation:

• This study presents five cases of infiltrative lipomas.
• Diagnostic procedures involved clinical assessment, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, and imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound).
• Treatment focused on surgical excision.

Findings:

• Infiltrative lipomas present diagnostic challenges, necessitating a combination of clinical, pathological, and radiological evaluations.
• Imaging modalities like CT and MRI are vital for delineating the extent of these intramuscular tumors.
• Surgical excision remains the definitive treatment for symptomatic or diagnostically uncertain cases.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of infiltrative lipomas prevents unnecessary aggressive treatment for benign conditions.
• Understanding the imaging characteristics aids in differentiating lipomas from malignant liposarcomas.
• This case series highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing rare soft tissue tumors.