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Lipoma involving the masticator space.
Anuradha Navaneetham1, Arati Rao, Amul Gandhi
1HOSMAT Dental Implantology and Facial Esthetic Center, Bangalore, India.
Annals of Maxillofacial Surgery
|March 14, 2013
Summary
This study reports an extremely rare case of a lipoma, a benign mesenchymal tumor, found in the masticator space of the head and neck. Such tumors are typically found on limbs or the posterior neck, making this anterior neck presentation highly unusual.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
- Head and Neck Surgery
Background:
- Lipomas are common benign tumors originating from mesenchymal cells.
- Typically, lipomas are found on the trunk and lower limbs.
- In the head and neck, lipomas most frequently occur in the posterior neck.
Observation:
- Lipomas are infrequently encountered in the anterior neck, infratemporal fossa, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and parotid gland.
- This case highlights an exceptionally rare occurrence of a lipoma within the masticator space.
- The presentation of lipomas can be diverse, necessitating thorough diagnostic evaluation.
Findings:
- A rare case of a lipoma involving the masticator space is presented.
- This finding underscores the potential for lipomas to occur in unusual anatomical locations within the head and neck.
- The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathological examination.
Implications:
- This case expands the known anatomical distribution of lipomas in the head and neck region.
- Understanding rare presentations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning in head and neck oncology.
- Further research into the etiology and behavior of lipomas in specific anatomical spaces may be warranted.
