A giant parapharyngeal lipoma causing obstructive sleep apnea

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Otolaryngology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Lipomas are common benign soft tissue tumors.
• Oral and head/neck lipomas are rare, occurring in 1-4% and 20-25% of cases, respectively.
• Large lipomas can compress adjacent structures, leading to symptoms like dysphagia, dyspnea, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an unusual case of a giant cervico-parapharyngeal lipoma.
• To highlight the association between this lipoma and obstructive sleep apnea.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of surgical intervention for OSA caused by lipoma.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 69-year-old male patient.
• Diagnostic evaluation including imaging (details not provided in abstract).
• Surgical excision of the giant cervico-parapharyngeal lipoma.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a giant cervico-parapharyngeal lipoma.
• The lipoma was identified as the cause of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Complete resolution of OSA symptoms was achieved post-operatively.

Conclusions:

• Giant cervico-parapharyngeal lipomas are rare but can cause significant airway compromise.
• Surgical removal is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to lipoma.
• This case underscores the importance of considering lipomas in the differential diagnosis of OSA.