Case report of a 72-year-old man with a giant neck lipoma

<ns3:p>&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Lipomas (lat. &lt;i&gt;lipoma&lt;/i&gt;) are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors, usually located subcutaneously and reaching small sizes. In rare cases, giant lipomas (lat. &lt;i&gt;lipoma gigantica&lt;/i&gt;) may develop, with a diameter exceeding 10 cm and a mass greater than 1000 g. Giant lipomas in the head and neck region represent a particular diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.&lt;b&gt;Case report:&lt;/b&gt; We present the case of a 72-year-old patient with a giant neck tumor that had been developing over many years. The mass was painless on palpation, with the main bulk located on the left side of the neck and extending posteriorly. The lesion was surgically removed in its entirety — the tumor measured 35 × 28 × 11 cm and weighed 2.70 kg. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a lipoma without atypia. This case illustrates successful surgical management of a giant neck lipoma, which constituted both an aesthetic and functional problem for the patient.&lt;b&gt;Discussion:&lt;/b&gt; The diagnosis of lipomas is based on physical examination and imaging studies. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, particularly in the case of giant lipomas and/or those causing mechanical symptoms. A key aspect is differentiation from liposarcoma (lat. &lt;i&gt;liposarcoma&lt;/i&gt;), a malignant tumor requiring a different therapeutic approach. Recurrence of lipomas is rare and usually results from incomplete resection. Postoperative follow-up is important, especially in cases of large lesions or those with an atypical course.&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Giant lipomas of the neck are rare, but they may cause significant body deformity and impair normal function. Proper diagnosis, careful surgical planning, and histopathological analysis are essential to achieve satisfactory therapeutic outcomes.</ns3:p>