Ahmad, Khairul Arif and Che' Man, Mohamad (2026) Not all red flags indicate malignancy: a case report of a benign lipoma mimicking soft-tissue sarcoma. Journal of Orthopedics Case Reports, 16 (8). pp. 46-49. ISSN 2250-0685 E-ISSN 2321-3817
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Abstract
Introduction: Soft-tissue sarcomas are uncommon malignant tumors that may present with enlarging, painful soft-tissue masses. However, certain benign lesions may occasionally demonstrate overlapping clinical features, creating diagnostic uncertainty. We report a case of a large lower limb lipoma that clinically mimicked soft-tissue sarcoma. Case Report: A 30-year-old woman presented with a progressively enlarging right calf swelling associated with nocturnal pain for 3 years. Physical examination demonstrated a large tender mass with poorly defined margins measuring approximately 20 cm × 15 cm. Due to concerning clinical features suggestive of malignancy, further evaluation was performed. Plain radiography showed no bony involvement, while ultrasound did not demonstrate a definite soft-tissue mass or vascular malformation. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse thickening of subcutaneous fat with homogeneous signal intensity similar to adjacent fat tissue, favoring a benign lipomatous lesion. The patient subsequently underwent surgical excision. Histopathological examination demonstrated mature adipocytes without atypia or lipoblasts, confirming a benign lipoma.Conclusion:This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in differentiating benign lipomatous lesions from soft-tissue sarcomas based solely on clinical presentation. Appropriate imaging evaluation and histopathological confirmation remain essential for accurate diagnosis and optimal management of suspicious soft-tissue masses.
| Item Type: | Article (Case Report) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | 6884/131746 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Lipoma, lower limb swelling, magnetic resonance imaging, soft-tissue sarcoma, soft-tissue tumor. |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Medicine Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Family Medicine (Effective: 1st January 2011) |
| Depositing User: | nur hakimah a manan |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Oct 2026 16:22 |
| Last Update: | 06 Oct 2026 16:22 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-10-Q5470 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131746 |
| Indexed In: | Google Scholar |
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