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Soft tissue lipoma with the radiographic appearance of a neoplasm within the mandibular canal

¹ Department of Diagnostic Services, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA; ² Private practice and Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA

*Correspondence to: Barry Pass, DDS, 1501 Crystal Drive, Suite 629, Arlington, VA 22202, USA; Email: bpass{at}howard.edu

Received 21 July 2005; revised 30 September 2005; accepted 10 October 2005

Lipomas and lipoma variants are common soft tissue tumours but are not commonly found in the oral and maxillofacial region. We report a case of a classic lipoma located on the medial aspect of the mandibular ramus, but not within bone, first seen by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon during treatment planning for routine extractions. Initial panoramic radiography indicated an expansive tumour in the area of the mandibular foramen and proximal end of the mandibular canal, apparently within the body of the mandible. Subsequent imaging with CT revealed a well-circumscribed soft tissue tumour on the medial aspect of the left mandibular ramus, not within the bone itself. Histological analysis of the operative specimen indicated a classic lipoma.

Keywords: soft tissue lipoma; mandible; radiography