A Case of Recurrent Giant Lipoma of the Retroperitoneum

Retroperitoneal lipoma is a histologically benign tumor, and was comparatively rare tumor before the development of imaging methods (CT, US etc.). A total of 60 cases including the present one have been reported in Japan. A 71-year-old man complaining of abdominal fullness was admitted to our hospital. After examination, we made a diagnosis of lipoma, and removed it. The tumor weighed 7530 g. Parts of the tumor were examined, and the histological structure indicated well-differentiated lipoma. The lipoma recurred 3 and 6 years after the first operation, and was removed again. On histological examination malignant elements were not found, and we made a diagnosis of recurrence of lipoma. Our case is rare in view of the tumor size and recurrence.