A Case of Lipoma of the Parotid Gland.

Kim, Hyung Jun; Kwon, Ho; Yim, Young Min; Jung, Sung No

Case Report

Journal of Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association 2007;8(1):26-28.

Hyung Jun Kim, Ho Kwon, Young Min Yim, Sung No Jung

Department of Plastic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Uijongbu, Korea. jsn7190@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Lipomas are common soft tissue neoplasms but are rarely found in the parotid gland. They constitute 1-3% of all parotid tumors, and are often not considered in the initial differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. METHODS: Our experience is a case of 70-year-old male who had a slow growing, nontender parotid mass for 1 year. CT scan showed a well encapsulated mass with fat density in the superficial lobe of left parotid gland. Lumpectomy including fatty mass and adjacent gland tissue was performed, preserving branches of facial nerve.
RESULTS
Frozen section showed lipomatous lesion without malignancy, so, further treatment such as superficial parotidectomy was not needed.
CONCLUSION
Though lipoma of parotid gland is rare, lipoma should be included in the initial differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumors and lumpectomy would be enough to treat lipoma if frozen section excluded the possibility of malignancy.

Keywords: Lipoma; Parotid gland; Superficial lobe; Lumpectomy