In the differential diagnosis of lipomas, fibromatous hamartoma, liposarcoma, fibrolipoma and teratoma may be mentioned as fat-containing lesions of peripheral localization. However, these lesions are different from lipomas in that they contain soft tissue components and are not homogeneous. Furthermore, they are much larger than lipomas, are infiltrative and their CT density is greater than -50 HU. Though it is emphsized that up to the present time surgery has been the gold standard method in the recognition and treatment, considering the risks of surgical procedures, we are of the opinion that diagnosis can be established and the follow-up can be managed with advanced radiological methods and that there is no necessity for invasive interventions especially in asymptomatic patients.
Key words: intrathoracic lipoma, differential diagnosis, risk of surgical procedures.
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