Temporal Lipoma in the Interfascial Fat Pad: A Rare Finding

Lipomas are the most frequent benign soft-tissue tumors, but they only infrequently occur in the head and neck region. Among these, those arising in the temporal region, especially from the interfascial fat pad between the two layers of the deep temporal fascia (DTF), are exceptionally rare. This compartment serves as a gliding and protective plane for the overlying temporoparietal fascia and the neurovascular structures coursing within it, including the superficial temporal artery (STA) and the frontal branch of the facial nerve. A routine dissection of an 80-year-old male cadaver revealed a well-encapsulated, lobulated yellowish mass in the right temporal region. The lesion's fascial boundaries, neurovascular relationships, and anatomical position were carefully documented and compared with established descriptions of temporal fascia anatomy. The mass measured approximately 2.5 × 1.5 cm and was confined between the superficial and deep layers of the DTF, consistent with the temporal (interfascial) fat pad. The frontal branch of the STA coursed superficial to the lesion, while the temporalis muscle lay deep to it, separated by the deep layer of the DTF. The lesion was identified as a lipoma based on its gross appearance and anatomical confinement. This case confirms that the temporal fat pad is a distinct anatomical compartment capable of developing benign lipomatous lesions. Recognition of this relationship is critical during pterional craniotomies, temporal reconstruction, and aesthetic contouring procedures to avoid neurovascular injury, maintain fascial integrity, and preserve temporal contour.