Gastrointestinal Lipomas: Diagnosis and Management Approaches
Summary
Gastrointestinal lipomas are benign tumours composed of mature adipose tissue that can arise anywhere along the digestive tract, most commonly within the colon. Often discovered incidentally, they may remain asymptomatic until they reach sufficient size to cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, intussusception or bowel obstruction. The diagnostic workup typically combines endoscopic assessment with cross-sectional imaging, especially computed tomography, which characteristically reveals well-circumscribed, homogenous lesions with fat attenuation. Endoscopic techniques, including snare resection and submucosal dissection, are increasingly applied to remove smaller lesions safely, whereas surgical excision remains the standard for larger or complicated lipomas. Minimally invasive approaches, such as laparoscopy, have gained traction, offering reduced postoperative morbidity and shorter hospital stays. A tailored strategy is essential, weighing lesion size, location and patient comorbidity, while emerging technologies in imaging and endoscopic instrumentation continue to refine diagnostic accuracy and expand therapeutic options.
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Gastrointestinal Lipomas: Diagnosis and Management Approaches publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gastrointestinal lipomas: diagnosis and management approaches across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Lipoma: A benign tumour composed of mature fat cells, typically well-circumscribed and slow-growing.
Submucosal: Located beneath the innermost lining (mucosa) of the gastrointestinal tract wall.
Intussusception: Telescoping of one segment of the bowel into an adjacent segment, potentially leading to obstruction.
Computed tomography (CT): Cross-sectional imaging technique that provides detailed anatomical information and tissue characterisation.
Endoscopic resection: Removal of a lesion via an endoscope using snares or dissection tools without open surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery: Minimally invasive surgical approach using small incisions and camera guidance.
References
- Giant Lipoma of the Bauhin’s Valve. Diagnostics (2024).
- A systematic review of symptomatic small bowel lipomas of the jejunum and ileum. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2020).
- Colonic Lipoma Causing Bowel Intussusception: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2021).
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