Débora Balabram1, Carla Cristina de Sousa Resende Cabral2, Omar de Paula Ricardo Filho3, Cristóvão Pinheiro de Barros4. 1. Department of Anatomical Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais, Brazil. 2. Serviço de Radiologia e Ultrassonografia de Minas Gerais, Belo HorizonteMinas Gerais, Brazil, MD. Radiologist, Serviço de Radiologia e Ultrassonografia de Minas Gerais (Sermig), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 3. Laboratory of Anatomical and Diagnostic Pathology, Belo HorizonteMinas Gerais, Brazil, MD. Pathologist, Laboratory of Anatomical and Diagnostic Pathology, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 4. Instituto da Previdência dos Servidores do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo HorizonteMinas Gerais, Brazil, MD. Breast Surgeon, Instituto da Previdência dos Servidores do Estado de Minas Gerais (IPSEMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Intramuscular lipomas are benign tumors that infiltrate the muscles. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 58-year-old female patient with an axillary lump. The lump was a lipoma inside the subscapularis muscle. It is important to differentiate these lesions from liposarcomas and from other diseases that may present as axillary lumps. The most accurate imaging method for differentiating benign lipomatous tumors from liposarcomas is magnetic resonance imaging, but surgical removal of these intramuscular lesions to confirm the diagnosis is recommended. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular lipomas are a rare cause of benign axillary lumps and should be considered in making differential diagnoses on axillary masses.
CONTEXT: Intramuscular lipomas are benign tumors that infiltrate the muscles. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 58-year-old female patient with an axillary lump. The lump was a lipoma inside the subscapularis muscle. It is important to differentiate these lesions from liposarcomas and from other diseases that may present as axillary lumps. The most accurate imaging method for differentiating benign lipomatous tumors from liposarcomas is magnetic resonance imaging, but surgical removal of these intramuscular lesions to confirm the diagnosis is recommended. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular lipomas are a rare cause of benign axillary lumps and should be considered in making differential diagnoses on axillary masses.