Laparoscopically assisted resection of an ascending colon lipoma causing intermittent intussusception

Colonic lipomas are relatively uncommon clinical entity, although they are among the most common nonepithelial benign tumors of the colon. They may produce abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhage, and intussusception. We report a case of a 56-year-old man who was suffering from abdominal pain and 4 weeks of intermittent diarrhea. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen revealed an abdominal mass in the right upper quadrant. Computed tomography showed a well-circumscribed intraluminal mass in the ascending colon, measuring 5 cm in diameter, with density value equal to fat. During laparoscopic surgery we found a colocolic intussusception, which we reduced laparoscopically, and performed a laparoscopically assisted right colectomy. The resected colon revealed a 6 cm wide lipoma within the ascending colon. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of benign lipoma. Aspects of preoperative diagnosis and treatment are discussed, and we review the literature.