J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  1995 Dec;10(4):418-423.

A Case of Anterior Cervical Lipoma Mimicking Diffuse Goiter

• Lee EJ
• Nam MS
• Nam SY
• Song YD
• Lim SK
• Lee HC
• Huh KB
• Kim KR
• Na JS
• Nam YH
• Kang JH
• Seo JK

Abstract

Lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that can arise in any location of the body where fat is present. It is found most commonly in the upper half of the body, particularly the head and neck, shoulders, and back. A mass in the antero-inferior part of the neck may be initially thought to be thyroid masses and then other cervical masses should be considered. Ultrasongraphic examination of benign lipoma demonstrates solid and echogenic mass and may differentiate nonthyroid from thyroid masses. Although the location of tumors, its consistency, and its motion with deglutition, seperation from the thyroid on sonographic examination, all pointed to nonthyroidal origin, did not rule out a possible mass that isolated from the lobes of the thyroid. Fine needle aspiration and biopsy can provide clear answer.We herein report a case of anterior cervical mass in a 48-yr-old male patient presenting a non-tender, slightly hard and nodular mass slowly growing for several years and moved with swallowing, and diagnosed his case as benign lipoma using thyroid scan and ultrasonography. When we encounter patients with anterior neck mass, we should consider benign lipoma mimicking diffuse goiter.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Deglutition
Goiter*
Head
Humans
Lipoma*
Male
Neck
Shoulder
Thyroid Gland
Ultrasonography