Lipoma may occur is any part of the body where fat is existing, but is rarely found in the oral cavity. Among various lipomas, those related to the proliferation of adipose and fibrous tissues are designated as fibrolipoma.
A 76 year old man was referred to our department with a main compliant of swelling of the lower right second molar mucosa, which was first noticed about four years ago and gradually increased in size thereafter. Family and past histories showed no specific problems. Oral examination revealed that a pediculated elastic soft phyma was covered by the oral mucous membrane at 7 portion. X-ray examination showed however no anomalies and laboratory findings were all within normal ranges. The clinical diagnosis of right mandibular benigh tumor finally made (Epulis).
On January 19, 1983, the tumor was enucleated under local anesthesia, which was easily removed en bloc by incising its surrounding mucosa and performing a blunt decollement. The prognosis is favorable with no sign of relapse as of 10 months lapsed after operation. Thus removed tumor was 2.4×1.7×1.2cm in size, elastic-soft and massive in nature, of which cut surface was yellowish white. From the histological examination, the diagnosis of fibrolipoma was made based on the facts that the surface was covered by stratified squamous cells and that many matured adipose tissues were observed below the mucous membrane with porliferated fibrous connective tissue in part.
