Uncommon Presentation of Retroauricular Lipoma: A Case Report

Lipomas are rare benign tumours composed of adipose tissue cells. They are the most common type of soft tissue tumours, but the presence of a lipoma in the retroauricular region is a rare clinical presentation. Lipomas are commonly found subcutaneously in the upper trunk, shoulders, neck, and back, and can occur in any part of the body with adipose tissue. They are noted for their presence as a soft, doughy mass, typically around 5 centimeters in size. These masses are usually painless and slow-growing, often diagnosed through radiological assessments. Management is recommended in most cases for aesthetic reasons, using both surgical and non-surgical methods. This is a case of a 55-year-old male presenting with a retroauricular, non-mobile, painless swelling for the past three years. He was successfully managed by surgical excision of the mass, which was confirmed as a lipoma by histopathological evaluation. Three months of follow-up showed no signs of recurrence. This case report highlights diagnostic challenges in retroauricular masses and considers a differential diagnosis of lipoma in consideration even in unusual locations.