[Gastrointestinal lipoma]

During the years 1975-1990 we treated 6 patients, 52-70 years old, with lipomas of the gastrointestinal tract. In 4 cases the diagnosis was made preoperatively. In 5 the tumor was located in the colon and in 1 in the stomach. 4 were treated surgically and 2, with relatively small lesions, were followed for 24 and for 52 months, respectively. A lipoma situated in the alimentary tract may lead to a variety of symptoms. Awareness of this phenomenon and the use of advanced diagnostic modalities may allow definitive clinical diagnosis.