A Case of Giant Spindle Cell Lipoma Arising from the Lateral Neck

Abstract

Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a relatively rare subtype of lipoma, that arises predominantly in the subcutaneous tissue of the back of the neck, shoulder, and back. We report a case of a giant SCL arising from the lateral neck. A 56-year-old man presented with a right cervical mass, that had gradually increased in size over a period of about three years. On examination, the tumor was found to measure 12 cm in maximum diameter. The preoperative diagnosis by needle biopsy was suspected liposarcoma, and we resected the tumor under general anesthesia. The biopsy skin was removed with the tumor, and extensive resection was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was SCL, and the tumor has not recurred until now, 2 years after the surgery. SCL is removed by marginal resection and does not recur, according to reports. In some previous reports, as in this case, extensive resection was performed on account of a preoperative diagnosis of suspected liposarcoma. Thus, to avoid extensive resection, it is important to make a precise diagnosis of SCL before operation. In the case reported herein, we had difficulty in confirming the diagnosis, because of the tumor was located at an atypical site and our pathologist had no experience in diagnosing this tumor. Thus, the diagnosis of SCL should be borne in mind in patients presenting with atypical head and neck fatty tumors.