Giant Lipoma in the Index Finger of a 60-Year-Old Patient: A Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction: Lipomas are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors found on the head, neck, shoulder, and back, but they are rarely encountered in the fingers, constituting <1% of such tumors. Case Report: This case report presents an exceptional location of a giant lipoma on the proximal phalanx of a 60-year-old Caucasian male’s right index finger, alongside a literature review that identified 20 similar cases. The patient, with no significant health issues, reported that the growth had been asymptomatic for 2 years before seeking consultation due to aesthetic concerns and impaired finger extension. Diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively, and histopathological analysis after surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis of a mature lipoma. Conclusion: This case contributes to the scarce documentation on finger lipomas, emphasizing the diagnostic challenges they present and the effectiveness of surgical removal in averting recurrence. It also highlights the unusual demographic occurrence, given the predominant presentation in middle-aged females, and underscores the necessity of considering lipomas in the differential diagnosis of finger masses. The literature review expands on the rarity of this condition, providing an analysis of 20 other cases, thereby enriching the understanding of lipoma manifestations in rare locations. Keywords: Lipoma, finger, index, case report.