Osteolipoma: a review of the literature and a rare case report

Abstract

Objectives: Lipomas are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors of soft tissue. According to previous studies, 1-4% of the cases has been observed in the oral cavity. A histological variant of lipoma featuring bone formation is called osteolipoma and has been very rarely observed (less than 1% of the total). In order to make a meaningful addition to this rare knowledge base, our study aims to provide a literature review and to report an additional case of osteolipoma.

Methods: An electronic search in the PubMed database with the keyword "osteolipoma" was conducted. Among 69 search results, only the cases of osteolipoma located in the "oral cavity" were included in this study. The findings of the previously reported 20 cases (in English) of osteolipoma of the oral cavity were organized in a table along with a new case of osteolipoma located in the mandibular buccal vestibule with radiological and histopathological findings provided by the authors.

Results: Osteolipoma affects both sexes and usually emerges in middle-aged or elderly patients with a long history of slow progression. Different imaging techniques may be utilized in the radiographic evaluation.

Conclusion: Differential diagnosis includes a wide range of lesions; therefore, the clinical and radiographic evaluation should be confirmed by histopathological examination. The suggested treatment is complete surgical excision and follow-up, and the prognosis is generally good.

Keywords: CBCT; Oral lipoma; Oral pathology; Osteolipoma.