A CASE OF LIPOMA OF THE STOMACH

A relatively rare case of lipoma of the stomach is reported, together with a review of the Japanese literatures. A 52-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with epigastralgia on Nov. 10, 1986. Laboratory data showed minimal changes, but upper G.I. series and fiberscopy revealed a soft tumor on the anterior wall of prepyrolic region of the stomach. Computerized tomography revealed a homogenous low density tumor. On Feb. 23, 1986, she underwent gastrectomy with the diagnosis of lipoma of the stomach. Pathological findings indicated a lipoma of the stomach arising from the submucosa. She is doing well. There have been 115 reported cases of lipoma of the stomach in Japan during in the past 34 years. Among them, computerized tomography could demonstrate low density tumors in two patients. Hot biopsy may be the most important diagnostic tecnique in order to identify the pathology of the tumor. Associated diseases included ulcer in 12 cases, carcinoma in 11, polyp in 5 and others in 4. When the definite diagnosis as lipoma of the stomach is possible, the course observation should be performed, however, the cases assosiated with complication such as bleeding or stenosis might be subjected to gastrectomy.