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Lipoma: An Overview

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Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 13

Abstract

Intracranial lipomas are uncommon benign mesenchymal tumors. They are usually found near the midline and the interhemispheric fissure is the most common location. Different malformations of the central nervous system are associated with lipomas specially the agenesis of the corpus callosum. Although asymptomatic, they can sometimes trigger neurological symptoms, specifically epileptic seizures. The radiological diagnostic clue of lipomas is a well delineated lobulated extra axial fatty mass. On computed tomography lipomas demarcate areas of marked hypodensity and on magnetic resonance they appear as hyperintense lesions on T1-weighted sequences and hypointense on T2-weighted images. The majority of lipomas are incidental findings and do not cause life threatening symptoms. Surgical management proves to be challenging due to the high vascularity and adherence to the lesion to the surrounding parenchyma and should be only pursued in cases of hydrocephalus or in sylvian fissure lipomas when epilepsy can not be controlled with medication.

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Correspondence to María Elena Erro Aguirre .

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Aguirre, M.E.E., de Lapiscina, E.H.M. (2014). Lipoma: An Overview. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 13. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7602-9_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7602-9_23

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7602-9

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