An unusual intraoral lipoma: a case report

Intraoral lipoma is a relatively rare painless benign tumor derived from mesenchymal connective tissue. A 58-year-old White male patient in good health was examined for a slow growing painless nodule on the palate which had been present for 6 years. There were no changes in the extraoral clinical examination. The intraoral examination revealed a sessile nodule of soft consistency on the right side of the hard palate covered by an intact mucosa and measuring approximately 2 × 2 cm. Radiographic examination showed no signs of bone changes. The clinical differential diagnosis included benign salivary gland tumor and mesenchymal tumor. Excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia, and the surgical specimen was sent to an anatomic pathology laboratory. Microscopic examination showed collections of mature adipocytes and scarce fibrous connective tissue stroma. The diagnosis of lipoma was established. After 5 months of follow-up, satisfactory wound healing and no recurrences were detected.