Management of Palatal Lipoadenoma in an Edentulous Adult: A Case Report

Introduction The palate is prone to benign tumors like papillomas, fibromas, and lipomas [1,2]. Palatal lipomas, including the rare adenolipoma variant, are uncommon [3,4]. Adenolipoma of the hard palate has not been reported in English literature [3]. This first documented case in an edentulous adult highlights its clinical and surgical relevance. Case Presentation A Caucasian man in his 50's was reffered to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Siena, with a 10-year history of a painless, progressively growing palatal mass, which caused difficulties wearing his removable dental prosthesis. He experienced progressive weight loss and a decline in social relationships due to full edentulism of the maxilla, which negatively affected his quality of life. Clinical examination revealed a 2 cm pedunculated, smooth, mobile mass of the junction of the hard and soft palate, covered by normal mucosa. MRI revealed a well-defined ovoid lesion and complete surgical excision was performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed a diagnosis of lipoadenoma. The patient experienced satisfactory wound healing, resumed prosthesis use, regained weight and demonstrated no recurrence after one-year. Discussion Lipomatous lesions in salivary glands are documented, but oral cavity lipoadenomas are rare and underreported [5- 7]. Despite their benign nature, these masses can significantly affect quality of life, especially in edentulous patients using prosthetics. Complete surgical resection is the preferred treatment, ensuring oncological safety while considering reconstructive needs based on defect site and size. In this case, secondary intention healing occurred without complications, emphasizing the value of tailored surgical strategies for palatal tumors [8-10]. Conclusions This report highlights the need to consider rare variants like lipoadenoma in the differential diagnosis of intraoral mass. Early identification and surgical management are crucial. In this case, successful surgical resection of the mass allowed the patient to regain the ability to wear a dental prosthesis and normal phonation, improving his quality of life. Histological examination remains indispensable for definitive diagnosis.