Case Report
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World J Radiol. Feb 28, 2012; 4(2): 58-62
Published online Feb 28, 2012. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v4.i2.58
Diagnostic challenge of lipomatous uterine tumors in three patients
Chi-Yeung Chu, Yip-Kan Tang, Tin-Sang Augustine Chan, Yu-Hon Wan, Kai-Hung Fung
Chi-Yeung Chu, Yip-Kan Tang, Yu-Hon Wan, Kai-Hung Fung, Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Tin-Sang Augustine Chan, Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Chu CY and Tang YK drafted the manuscript; Wan YH prepared the figures; Chan TSA and Fung KH provided the final approval.
Correspondence to: Dr. Chi-Yeung Chu, FRCR, Resident, Department of Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, China. chuchiyeung@yahoo.com.hk
Telephone: +852-25956202 Fax: +852-29750432
Received: April 22, 2011
Revised: November 18, 2011
Accepted: November 25, 2011
Published online: February 28, 2012
Abstract

Lipomatous uterine tumors are uncommon benign neoplasms, with incidence ranging from 0.03% to 0.2%. They can generally be subdivided into two types: pure or mixed lipomas. A third group of malignant neoplasm has been proposed, which is liposarcoma; however, this is very rare. In this article, we report three patients having lipomatous uterine tumors, including one uterine lipoma and two uterine lipoleiomyomas. All our patients are postmenopausal women, which is the typical presenting age group. They did not have any symptoms and the tumors were only found incidentally on imaging. However, in some patients, symptoms may uncommonly occur. If symptoms occur, these are similar to those of leiomyoma. We illustrate the imaging features of the tumors in our patients with ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tumor typically appears as a well-defined homogenously hyperechoic lesion on ultrasound. It shows fat density on CT scan and signal intensity of fat on MRI. MRI is the modality of choice because of its multiplanar capability and its ability to demonstrate fat component of the lesion, as illustrated in our cases. We also discuss the importance of differentiating lipomatous uterine tumors from other lesions, especially ovarian teratoma which requires surgical intervention. Despite the rarity and the common asymptomatic nature of the tumors, we believe that this series of three cases demonstrates a review of a rare tumor which provides important knowledge for patient management.

Keywords: Uterus; Uterine neoplasms; Magnetic resonance imaging; Leiomyoma; Lipomatous