Lipoma is the most frequent benign mesenchymal tumor. Giant intramuscular lipomas, defined by a measurement greater than 10 cm in any dimension, reside deep to the fascia and originate within the muscle layer. Traditionally, the length of the incision required for excision is equal to or greater than the diameter of the giant intramuscular lipoma. However, because of injury to the surrounding tissues from excessive traction and thermal injury from the energy delivered by the device, long and noticeable scars with a hypertrophic tendency develop, resulting in patient dissatisfaction. Although some esthetically-favorable methods have been reported, including liposuction and liposuction-assisted excision, these methods did not sufficiently excise lipomas, and led to a higher recurrence rate. In contrast, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel can excise large and deep-seated lipomas with minimal scarring. The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel requires a shorter incision, and it provides a sufficient view of the surgical field, thereby avoiding unnecessary traction applied to the skin and reducing surrounding tissue injury trauma, which results in hypertrophic scars.
Lipoma is a benign mesenchymal tumor and the most common soft tissue tumor [
Traditionally, a long surgical incision has been necessary for total excision of a deep and large intramuscular lipoma, resulting in a long scar and esthetic dissatisfaction. Reducing the scar length by shortening the incision results in tissue injury around the incision margin from traction, which may hinder healing and lead to the formation of hypertrophic scars [
Some other methods have been suggested to shorten the scar, including suction-assisted surgical excision, endoscopic-assisted liposuction, and endoscopic excision for removing moderate and large lipomas [
The present study suggests that using an ultrasonic energy device minimizes the scar after excision of a giant intramuscular lipoma.
A 62-year-old male patient was admitted with a giant intramuscular lipoma located in his anterolateral abdominal wall (
With the patient under general endotracheal anesthesia, surgical excision was performed. The skin incision was only 3.5 cm long. After dissection of the subcutaneous layer, the muscle was split to expose the lipoma (
Lipoma is a benign tumor originating from the mesenchyme, and it is the most frequent type of soft tissue tumor [
In the traditional excision procedure, utilizing a small incision to shorten the postoperative scar requires a high traction force to obtain the appropriate visual field; as a result, tissue and incision margin injury might occur, leading to poor wound healing or hypertrophic scar formation [
In contrast, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel is a surgical instrument frequently used in laparoscopic surgery that provides an appropriate field of view for the operation with small incisions and without the requirement of a strong force of traction. Minimizing mechanical forces in the wound environment improves wound healing and reduces scar formation [
The ultrasonic harmonic scalpel can simultaneously perform cutting and cauterization. Thus, it can be used to perform a meticulous operation and to shorten the operation time. Moreover, the lateral thermal spread of the harmonic scalpel is minimal, so it may be helpful for minimizing thermal damage around the tissue [
Moreover, using the harmonic scalpel reduces the occurrence of seroma, because the ultrasound energy of the device prevents the opening through which serous discharge occurs. However, dissection with this energy-delivering device in a narrow field is predicated on sufficient anatomical knowledge. By ensuring a thorough understanding of the blood vessels and nerves to be dissected in the region of the lipoma, intraoperative bleeding can be minimized and the sequelae after surgery can be reduced.
Various surgical techniques that improve esthetic outcomes by shortening scar length have been reported, including suction-assisted surgical excision, endoscopic-assisted liposuction, and endoscopic excision for removing moderate and large lipomas [
Compared with the previously reported methods, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel has a lower recurrence rate and has the advantage of permitting lipoma excision en bloc, even in large and deep-seated lipomas, so that pathologic specimens can be precisely analyzed.
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
The study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
The patient provided written informed consent for the publication and the use of his images.
A preoperative clinical photo showing a huge mass on the left anterolateral abdominal wall and a previous hypertrophic scar on the patient’s right chest.
Computed tomography revealed a lipoma measuring 10×10 cm located deep in the external oblique muscle.
Compared to the size of the lipoma, a relatively-short 3.5-cmsized skin incision was made (A) for dissection of the intramuscular lipoma with the Harmonic scalpel. (B) Dissected lipoma (C) was detached from the external oblique muscle, and (D) size was measured as 10×9.5×5.5 cm.
An immediate postoperative clinical photo showing a 3.5-cm-long wound without skin damage.
At 3 months postoperatively, a 3.5-cm-long scar was present without hypertrophy.