Diagnosis and surgical management of a pharyngeal fibrolipoma in a Jack Russell terrier

Abstract Fibrolipoma is a rare variant of lipoma, and pharyngeal lipoma has not been previously described in the dog. This report gives details of the diagnosis and successful surgical treatment of the first reported case of a pharyngeal fibrolipoma in a dog. A 12‐year‐old, female, neutered Jack Russell terrier was presented with a pharyngeal mass, which had been identified on induction of anaesthesia for dental treatment. A 3‐month history of reduced appetite and difficulty prehending food was reported. Diagnostic imaging and marginal surgical excision were performed, and histopathology was consistent with fibrolipoma. Pharyngeal fibrolipoma should be considered an additional differential diagnosis for a pharyngeal space‐occupying mass, particularly with consistent diagnostic imaging findings and an absence of metastatic lesions. In this dog, the early postoperative recovery and long‐term outcome following surgical excision were excellent.