Intraoral lipomas: A study of 26 cases in a Brazilian population

Objective: To analyze the clinical and histopathologic features of all cases diagnosed as lipomas in the oral cavity in a Brazilian population. Method and Materials: From 2002 to 2006, 26 cases of intraoral lipoma were studied. Clinical features obtained from biopsy records and microscopic slides were reviewed according to the World Health Organization and other cases previously described. Results: Mean age was 54.6 years (range, 29 to 91 years) with predilection for women. The buccal mucosa was the most common location (n = 9), followed by the tongue (n = 7), lower lip (n = 4), floor of the mouth (n = 3), retromolar area (n = 2), and buccal sulcus (n = 1). Histologically, the lesions were defined as classic lipomas (n = 15), fibrolipomas (n = 7), intramuscular lipoma (n = 2), spindle-cell lipoma (n = 1), and sialolipoma (n = 1). Follow-up information was available in 20 cases. No case recurred during a 6- to 12-month period. Conclusion: The benign nature of intraoral lipomas is supported by its bland histopathologic appearance and the absence of recurrences following complete local excision. Palabras clave: buccal mucosa, histopathology, lipomas, tongue