[Giant atypical muscle-involving lipoma of the right thigh: a case report and review of the literature].

The clinical case reported here concerns a giant lipoma (22 x 12 x 10 cm; 2740 g) located in the distal region of the right thigh, in a subfascial zone. The patient was referred to our department for a relapse of thrombophlebitis of the right lower limb (occurring about two years earlier) and presented a large tumefaction of the mid third of thigh at objective examination, the presumed onset of which dated back about ten years after a traumatic accident. Ultrasonography confirmed the presence of the tumefaction but did not allow us to identify its origin with certainty. Musculoskeletal magnetic resonance imaging, however, revealed a gross expansive lesion closely connected to the distal part of the femur, suggesting its probable benign nature. The mass was totally resected without either muscle section or the sacrifice of periosteum. The histological findings indicated an atypical lipomatous tumour. The therapy of giant lipomas is invariably surgical excision. Nevertheless, the high risk of relapse (which is typical of this kind of neoplastic proliferation) despite radical resection, makes a systematic postoperative follow-up necessary.