Intercostal muscle lipoma

Case contributed by Domenico Nicoletti
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Incidental finding on a chest radiograph for investigation before surgery.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

RX chest                 

Small, barely noticeable, right axillary extrapleural opacity.

ct

Chest CT with contrast                  

Lipoma of the fourth right intercostal muscle.

Case Discussion

The superficial lipomas are palpable, compressible masses in the soft tissues, not adherent to the overlying skin.

Association between lipomas and traumas has been reported.

Rare malignant transformation of lipoma into liposarcoma.

However, the presence of an intramuscular lipoma is a risk factor for malignancy, more so in the deep musculature.

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