Pedunculated obstructive lipoma of the ileocecal valve: a case report

Colonic lipomas are relatively common but they rarely progress to complete acute obstruction.

We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with acute intestinal obstruction caused by a large pedunculated lipoma of the ileocecal valve. Preoperatively, the patient presented acutely with clinical and radiographic signs of small intestine ileus. A right hemicolectomy with subsequent terminolateral ileocolostomy was performed.The histopathological examination revealed a benign lipoma of the ileocecal valve which telescoped into the cecum and caused ileocolonic intussusception. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was free of symptoms during a 12-month follow-up period.

Since these benign tumors are frequently revealed by laparotomy and the definitive diagnosis is made on the basis of histopathological examination, we can conclude that extensive resections of the large intestine are justified in cases with acute clinical presentation.