Giant angiolipoma of the back complicated with ulceration and sepsis: unusual presentation of a rare benign tumour

Abstract

A 63-year-old woman presented to the emergency unit with a huge (40 × 35 × 10 cm) oval-shaped pedunculated growth in the back with superficial ulceration in its lower aspect, associated with signs of sepsis. After adequate resuscitation, the patient was transferred to the operation theatre where the tumour was completely excised and the resultant wound was closed in primary manner using polypropylene sutures with suction drains inserted in the wound bed. The patient was discharged home after two days and was followed-up for two months. No wound complications were recorded on follow-up. Angiolipoma is a benign variant of lipoma that, despite what has been reported in the literature, may affect any age and any region of the body. Complications of angiolipoma may include ulceration, sepsis, gangrene and possible systemic inflammatory response syndrome which may pose a threat to the patient’s life, hence should be managed promptly after adequate patient preparation.