Lipome géant cervico-dorsal avec lourdeur et attitude vicieuse du rachis cervical: à propos d’un cas à Bamako (Mali)

Lipomas are usually encapsulated benign tumors with slow growth (that begins in adipocytes. They occur mostly in adults, regardless of race or sex, with a slight female predominance in some studies. Lipoma is called giant lipoma when the resection specimen is greater than five centimeters. Cervical-dorsal cord lipoma are rare. We report the case of a 40-year old patient, presenting with cervical-dorsal swelling evolving since 2008 and gradually increasing in volume. At the center of the tumor there was a post-ulcerous achromic plaque surrounded by pigmented stripes. For some time, the patient reported a sensation of heaviness and vicious attitude of the cervical spine. Three diagnostic hypotheses were evoked: lipoma (the most likely), liposarcoma and royal tumour. CT scan without contrast agent injection showed a lipoma. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor which allowed extraction of well-encapsulated fat. Lipoma weighed 1025 grams and measured 17x15x6 cm. Histological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed CT scan result. The postoperative course was uneventful with disappearance of cervical heaviness.