J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  1994 Mar;9(1):32-34.

A Case of Anterior Cervical Lipoma Mimicking Thyroid Nodule

• Yoo YK
• Lee DS
• Jung CH
• Lee OC
• Kim HJ
• Kim IS
• Ahn YH
• Kim MH
• Cho OK

Abstract

Lipomas are among the most common of all benign neoplasma and occur more frequently over the back, between the shoulders, and on the back of the neck. They are usually subcutaneous in origin, and characteristically multilobulated masses of fatty tissue that vary from small nodules to large masses weighing several kilograms.A mass in the anterior part of the neck may be initially thought to be thyroid nodules and then other cervical masses should be considered. Ultrasonographic examination of benign lipoma demonstrates solid and echogenic mass and may differentiate nonthyroid from thyroid masses. When lipoma is clinically suspected, the use of CTs can establish the correct diagnosis without the use of thyroid hormone suppression or the need for urgent surgery.We experienced a case of anterior cervical mass in a 51-year-old male patient presenting a non-tender and soft mass rapidly growing for recent several months and moved with swollowing, and diagnosed his case as benign lipoma using ultrasonography, computed tomographic scan, and fine niddle asperation biopsy and therefore when we encounter patients with anterior neck mass, we should consider benign lipoma mimicking thyroid nodule.

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Biopsy
Diagnosis
Humans
Lipoma*
Male
Middle Aged
Neck
Shoulder
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Nodule*
Ultrasonography