Two entities in angiolipoma(A study of 459 cases of lipoma with review of literature on infiltrating angiolipoma)

A study of lipomas collected over the past 20 years in a university hospital indicated that there are two types of angiolipoma, namely noninfiltrating and infiltrating. Noninfiltrating angiolipoma is seen in young individuals and presents as painful, soft, cutaneous nodules. Occasional compression of nerve fibers that accompany the vascular channels could be demonstrated. Treatment is merely enucleation. Infiltrating angiolipoma is rather rare. Only 23 cases have been reported in the English literature. Though histologically benign, the tumor can infiltrate bony, muscular, neural, and fibrocollagenous tissues to cause unusual symptoms and signs and can clinically simulate malignant neoplasms. Wide excision to include the normal tissue surrounding the tumor is mandatory. Radiotherapy should be rendered to cases with recurrence.