Sarma DP(1986): Lipoma of the corpus callosum. J La State Med Soc 138:45-47.

PMID: 3772350 [PubMed indexed for MEDLINE]

LIPOMA OF THE CORPUS CALLOSUM

DEBA P. SARMA, MD

Although lipomas are relatively common lesions occurring in various parts of the body, intracranial lipomas are very uncommon. A lipoma of the corpus callosum occurring in a 65-year-old man is described. English literature on the subject is briefly reviewed.

65-YEAR-OLD was diagnosed as having Adermoid carcinoma of the right upper lobeepiof
MAN

lung with involvement of the mediastinum. He was free of any neurologic defects. He was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. He expired six months later. At autopsy, squamous cell carcinoma was located in the lung with metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes. Examination of the brain revealed a well circumscribed, encapsulated, pale yellow tumor measuring 1.3cm in diameter attached to the superior aspect of the anterior part of the corpus callosum (Fig 1). On microscopic examination (Fig 2) the tumor was a lipoma composed of mature adipose tissue traversed by many blood vessels. There were no other abnormalities in the brain.

DISCUSSION
Intracranial lipomas are very rare because the brain and the meninges normally do not contain any adiJOURNAL VOL 138 \'O o SEPTEMBER

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Fig 1. Lipoma (arrow) of the corpus callosum.

pose tissue. The corpus callosum is the most common site of intracranial lipomas.1 Lipomas of the corpus callosum may be associated with developmental anomalies such as agenesis of the corpus callosum2 suggesting an embryonic aberration as the explanation for their pathogenesis. About 50% of the cases of the lipoma of the corpus callosum are asymptomatic and many are diagnosed only at autopsy.1 The symptomatic cases may " present with seizures, headaches, mental defects, hemiplegia, vertigo, vomiting, and papilledema. By utilizing various radiologic modalities a definitive diagnosis of the callosal lipoma can be made in almost all cases.1 In a typical case, plain skull x-ray shows a radiolucent zone in the frontal region corresponding to the low-density fat in the tumor, which may be surrounded by calcification at the lateral margins. The CT scan is diagnostic on the basis of typical

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x-ray absorption and location. Carotid angiography may show the circulation and vascularity of the tumor. Management of the symptomatic cases includes anticonvulsive therapy and other symptomatic meas ures. Surgical removal of the tumor is usually risky and technically difficult and does not yield gratifying results.3 This is due to the high vascularity of the lesion, incorporation of the anterior cerebral arteries into the tumor, and capsular adhesion to the sur rounding brain tissue.

REFERENCES
1. Gerber SS, Plotkin R: Lipoma of the corpus callosum. Case Re port. / Ne'urosurg 1982:57:281-285. 2. Zettner A, Metsky MG: Lipoma of the corpus callosum. / Neuropathol Exp Neural 1960:19:305-319. 3. Nabawi P, Dobben GD, Mafee M, et al: Diagnosis of lipoma of the corpus callosum by CT in five cases. Neuroradiology 1981;21:159-162.

Fig 2. Microscopically, lipoma is composed of mature adipose tissue traversed by many vessels (hematoxylin-eosin, xlO).

From the Department of Pathology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA. Reprints not available.

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