Endoscopic Resection of a Giant Esophageal Lipoma Causing Sudden Choking

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2016 Oct 25;68(4):210-213. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2016.68.4.210.

Abstract

Most esophageal lipomas are discovered incidentally and are small and asymptomatic. However, large (>4 cm) lipomas may cause various symptoms, including dysphagia, regurgitation, or epigastric discomfort. We present a 45-year-old woman with intermittent sudden choking and globus pharyngeus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound revealed an approximately 10.0×1.5 cm pedunculated subepithelial tumor in the upper esophagus, identified as the cause of her symptoms. A thoracic computed tomography scan revealed a fat attenuated longitudinal mass along the upper esophagus, suggestive of a lipoma. Endoscopic resection of the lesion was performed with a detachable snare to relieve her symptoms, and the pathologic findings were consistent with a lipoma.

Keywords: Endoscopy; Esophagus; Lipoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / etiology*
  • Endosonography
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / complications
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Esophagus / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophagus / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoma / complications
  • Lipoma / diagnosis*
  • Lipoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Surgical Instruments
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed