Background: Minimal incision extraction technique is widely accepted for the surgical removal of lipomas, but no consensus for the incision length has been made yet.
Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of lipomas which affect the minimal incision length during the minimal incision extraction.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients who underwent minimal incision extraction for 55 medium-sized (3-5 cm) or large lipomas (> 5 cm) between March 2020 and May 2022. If the mass is not fully dissected, or adequate visual field for hemostasis was not provided through the initial one-third incision, the incision was extended to the minimal extent.
Results: There were 33 males and 17 females with a mean age of 53.5 ± 12.7 years. There was no statistical difference in the minimal % incision length, defined as [(incision length) / (tumor diameter)] x 100, between the medium-sized (n = 31) and large lipomas (n = 24). Lipomas of the long incision group (minimal % incision length ≥66.7%, n = 21) had a higher frequency of head and neck location than lipomas of the short incision group (minimal % incision length <66.7%, n = 34) (odds ratio = 14.5, P < .05). However, no association was found between the tumor diameter or depth and the minimal % incision length. The occurrence of postoperative complications was not associated also (P = .296).
Conclusion: The minimal % incision length for lipoma removal does not show statistical difference between medium-sized and large lipomas, and is affected by its anatomical location, but not by tumor diameter or depth.
Keywords: incision length; lipoma; minimal incision extraction; surgery.