An unusual intraoral lipoma: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Lipoma is a painless tumor derived from mesenchymal connective tissue. It manifests itself on soft tissue and is characterized by a slow and circumscribed growth. Its incidence in the oral cavity is relatively low (1-4%). Despite the fact that it poses very little threat, as it is a benign form, as opposed to liposarcomas, its position in the oral cavity can create the prerequisite conditions for the buccal mucosa to be continuously traumatised by chewing and thus be altered. Given the fact that it is a painless lesion, patients can undergo years with an intraoral lipoma without ever recognizing it. There, we report a case of an unusual, large, intraoral lipoma that caused speech problems. CASE REPORT A 46-year-old man presented a large, soft mass in the buccal mucosa. No pain was described by the patient, but there was a slight impediment in chewing and talking. The patient underwent surgical excision of the lesion, which was then sent for histological examination. Results confirmed the initial hypothesis that the lesion was a lipoma. CONCLUSIONS Lipomas can be subtle lesions that may go unnoticed for several years until their size causes difficulties with normal masticatory movement and aesthetic problems. However, given the benignity of the mass, it rarely poses a serious threat to health. They are relatively sporadic lesions and, after being removed, relapse is rare.