Non-infiltrating angiolipoma of the cheek: a case report and review of the literature.

Angiolipoma, spindle cell lipoma, mylelolipoma, chondrolipoma and myxolipoma are histologic variants of lipomas arising from fat tissue. Although angiolipoma is the most common tumor in the trunk and extremities of young people, it occurs infrequently in the head and neck region. The authors present the clinical and histological features of a non-infiltrating angiolipoma excised from the cheek of a 22-year old man. Clinical examination showed a soft, mobile, approximately 4 x 3 cm mass that could be palpated anterior to the masseter muscle. The mass was removed by an intraoral approach. Angiolipoma was confirmed on histopathologic evaluation. Lipomas represent about 1 to 5% of all neoplasms of the oral cavity. They are usually painless, soft, round and mobile. The diagnosis is based on both clinical and histologic characteristics. The treatment is surgical excision.