Gastric Lipoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Lipomas are rare gastric tumors that comprise less than 1% of gastric tumors. These tumors are usually without clinical manifestations, but sometimes they may present with severe symptoms like bleeding,intussusception, or abdominal pain. In endoscopic assessment, they manifest with subm ucosal masses with intact epithelium. Endosonography and CT scan can help in diagnosis. Surgical resection of the mass and pathologic examination confirm the diagnosis. This case report, presents a patient that referred with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (melena). Endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal mass with intact epithelium. Endosonography detected a mass with increased echogenicity that was suggestive of lipoma. The patient underwent a surgical operation for resection of the mass and the diagnosis of lipoma was confirmed by pathology. Although gastric lipomas are rare, they should be considered in evaluation and differential diagnosis of gastric bleeding due to submucosal masses. Endosonography can differentiate lipomas precisely before surgery among submucosal lesions.