Subcutaneous Myolipoma in the Nape of Neck: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Introduction Myolipoma of soft tissue is an extremely rare benign lipomatous lesion, which was originally described by Meis et al. (1991). Myolipomas affect adults most frequently in the 5th and 6th decades of life with a female predilection (2:1 ratio). The
lesions are most commonly located in the abdominal cavity, retroperitoneum and inguinal areas. Less frequently, myolipomas may be found at sites such as the orbit, eyelid, breast, pericardium, anus, neck and even the extremities. We herewith, report a case of subcutaneous myolipoma presenting at a rare site: nape of neck.

Case History A 26-year-old gentleman presented in surgical OPD complaining of swelling in nape of the neck since 2 months. His medical history did not reveal any co-morbid conditions, all routine investigations have been done that were within normal limits.

Material and Methods A surgical excision was performed and biopsy demonstrated a myolipoma. Gross examination showed a well-circumscribed mass measuring of 3 × 3 × 2 cm. The outer surface was smooth and the cut surface showed greyish white solid area. On microscopic examination, lobules of mature adipose tissue with intervening fibrous septae containing thin-walled vessels and thick bands of muscle fibres and the final diagnosis of myolipoma was performed.

Conclusion We report a rare case of subcutaneous myolipoma at the rare site in young male patient. Despite the benign nature of these tumors, the correct diagnosis is important, because such masses need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of fat-containing lesions of the soft tissue.