Peripheral nerve lipoma: Case report of an intraneural lipoma of the median nerve and literature review

Abstract

Adipose lesions rarely affect the peripheral nerves. This can occur in two different ways: Direct compression by an extraneural lipoma, or by a lipoma originated from the adipose cells located inside the nerve. Since its first description, many terms have been used in the literature to mention intraneural lipomatous lesions. In this article, the authors report a case of a 62-year-old female who presented with an intraneural median nerve lipoma and review the literature concerning the classification of adipose lesions of the nerve, radiological diagnosis and treatment.

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve: An outcome of surgical management in six consecutive cases

“…[ 1 11 18 19 ] Intraneural lipoma, fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the nerve, fatty infiltration, and neural fibroma are grouped under one broad heading by the World Health Organization. [ 1 4 ] Although intraneural lipoma and fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the nerve are the subsets under lipomatosis of the nerve, they do differ in their morphology and management. [ 1 ] Among peripheral nerves, most of the lipomatosis of the nerve occurs commonly in the median nerve,[ 5 6 7 ] the reason of which is unknown.…”

“…[ 3 ] It constitutes <5% of benign tumor. [ 4 ] Females are more affected compared to males. [ 1 4 ] Lipomatosis of the nerve most commonly involves the median nerve[ 5 6 7 ] followed by radial[ 8 9 ] and ulnar.…”

“…[ 4 ] Females are more affected compared to males. [ 1 4 ] Lipomatosis of the nerve most commonly involves the median nerve[ 5 6 7 ] followed by radial[ 8 9 ] and ulnar. [ 5 6 10 ] The affection of fibrolipomatous hamartoma toward median nerve has not been clearly explained till date.…”

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by intraneural lipoma of the median nerve and arteriovenous malformation

“…Combined lesions are combinations of intra- and extraneural lesions, combinations of lipomas with lipomatosis, or combined intra- and extraneural lipomas in the setting of lipomatosis. [ 1 9 ]…”

“…Many terms have been used to refer to lipomatous tumors involving peripheral nerves such as intraneural lipomas, neural fibrolipoma, lipofibromatous hamartoma, perineural lipoma, macrodystrophia lipomatosa, and lipomatosis of nerve. [ 1 ] Intraneural lipomas most commonly occur in the forearm and the wrist, particularly within the median nerve. [ 2 ] Large lesions may cause progressive compression neuropathy.…”