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Giant Diaphragmatic Lipoma: Two Autopsy Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Margiotta Gabriele,
Carlini Luigi,
Carnevali Eugenia,
Lancia Massimo,
Gabbrielli Mario,
Bacci Mauro
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12840
Subject(s) - medicine , lipoma , thoracic cavity , autopsy , diaphragmatic breathing , diaphragmatic hernia , differential diagnosis , mediastinum , thorax (insect anatomy) , liposarcoma , malignancy , diaphragmatic rupture , surgery , anatomy , hernia , sarcoma , pathology , alternative medicine
Lipomas are common benign tumors most frequently found within the subcutaneous areas of the body. Deep‐seated lipomas are rare and tend to be larger than cutaneous ones. Lipomas are rarely seen in the thoracic cavity, and they are usually located in the mediastinum, bronchiole, and lungs. Diaphragmatic lipomas have been occasionally reported in the literature, the first being described by Clark et al. in 1886. The authors report two rare cases of giant diaphragmatic lipoma incidentally found during forensic autopsies. In the first case, a Caucasian 85‐year‐old woman burned to death with another passenger, after her methane‐fueled car collided with another car on a highway near Terni, Umbria, Italy. In the second case, a Caucasian 45‐year‐old man collapsed while walking through the countryside of Perugia. In either case, a large mass in the thorax was observed. The definitive pathologic diagnosis was giant intrathoracic diaphragmatic lipoma without evidence of malignancy. The authors also review the relevant literature and discuss differential diagnoses. These case reports contribute to the establishment of the actual incidence of diaphragmatic lipomas.