Huge lipoma of tongue
A 75-year-old man was referred to our department with a tumor tongue, which he had first noticed approximately 16 years earlier. His medical history was non-contributory. The mass measured 9 × 8 cm and was extending from dorsal to ventral surface supero-inferiorly and right to left lateral border of anterior third of tongue [Figures and ]. The mass was painless, firm, yellowish in color with multiple engorged blood vessels over its surface. Patient had difficulty in mastication, swallowing. He frequently used to get up from sleep because of obstruction in airway. The lesion was excised under general anesthesia. The tumor was well encapsulated []. The mucosal layers were closed together with absorbable sutures obliterating the dead space. He made an uneventful recovery from the surgery [].\nMacroscopic examination showed a single mass of tissue covered with adipose tissue, 9 × 8 × 6 cm and weighting 56 g. The cut surface showed fatty tissue. Microscopically the sections showed sheets of mature adipocytes and extravasated red blood cells. The tumor cells were arranged in lobules. The features were consistent with a lipoma. The patient has since regained normal speech and feeding capacity with no loss of sensory or motor functions of the tongue. The tongue now fits comfortably in the mouth without obstructing the airway.