Colonic lipomas: clinical significance and management

Colonic lipomas are uncommon tumors but do constitute the most common nonepithelial tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. They tend to occur in an older population and rarely cause symptoms. However, if a lipoma discovered by barium enema or colonoscopy is causing symptoms of obstruction or bleeding, the tumors may require surgical removal. Rarely, as in our patient, the bleeding lipoma may be sufficiently pedunculated to allow safe colonoscopic removal. In general, lipomas of the colon are curiosities that must be distinguished from adenomatous polyps.