Pleural Lipoma
Pathophysiology: Benign tumor of the pleura with a
predominance of adipose cells. May have fibrous stromal
elements. Stable or very slow growing.
CXR/CT Findings:
1.
Solitary peripheral pleural based mass
2.
May have obtuse angles with pleural surface
3.
May be exophytic and project into lung
4.
Rarely calcified
5.
Not associated with pleural effusion or adenopathy
6.
Characteristic fat density on CT
7.
Rarely, may change shape somewhat with change of position
Clues:
1.
Usually picked up on “routine CXR”
2.
Patients are asymptomatic
3.
May be slow growing
4.
Without previous films, long differential diagnosis
“Aunt Sophies”:
1.
pleural fibroma
2.
peripheral lung mass/tumor
3.
pleural metastasis
4.
peripheral round atelectasis or round pneumonia
5.
encysted pleural fluid collection
6.
extrapleural fat
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