Arch Hand Microsurg.  2019 Jun;24(2):197-201. 10.12790/ahm.2019.24.2.197.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to Lipoma: A Case Report

• Seo KB
• Kim SR
• Nam KW
• Choi S
• Seo JY
• Rho JY
• Kim GM

• KMID: 2448055
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/ahm.2019.24.2.197

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common compressive neuropathy in the hand. Median nerve is chronically compressed in a narrow space composed of transverse carpal ligament and carpal bones, which can cause pain, numbness, hypesthesia, and atrophy of the thenar muscle. In most cases, specific causes or factors can not be identified. But space occupied lesions may be locally compressed, or caused by systemic causes such as diabetes and hypothyroidism. Tumors are rarely the cause of local compression in the carpal tunnel. Lipoma is one of the most common soft tissue tumors, but it rarely occurs in the hand, and carpal tunnel syndrome due to compression of lipomas is rarely reported. We report a case of a 65-year-old patient with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome due to lipoma.

Keyword

Median nerve; Median neuropathy; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Lipoma

MeSH Terms

Aged
Atrophy
Carpal Bones
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*
Diagnosis
Hand
Humans
Hypesthesia
Hypothyroidism
Ligaments
Lipoma*
Median Nerve
Median Neuropathy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance images (A, B) coronal plane T1 weighted image and T2 weighted image (C, D) axial plane T1 weighted image and T2 weighted image. Lipoma is high signal intensity in T1 weighted image and low signal intensity in T2 weighted image.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Intra-operative view of the the median nerve and adherent mass were identified. (B) After a total excision of the mass with epineurolysis and bleeding control. (C) Biopsy specimens, encapsulated and regular margins.

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  Fig. 3 Microphotographs showing (A) a well-encapsulated adipose tissue mass (H&E stain, ×10), (B) composed of benign mature adipocytes (H&E stain, ×100).

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