Upper extremity mass with lipomatous axillary involvement and multiple level encasement of the brachial plexus

Abstract

A 40-year-old female presented for surgical consultation of an upper extremity soft tissue mass. Initial ultrasound report recorded a 5.5 cm mass, consistent with a subcutaneous lipoma. Intra-operative visualization revealed an intramuscular lipoma emerging from brachialis muscle. Post-excision MRI was ordered for continued axillary fullness which revealed lipomatous extension into axilla and posterior arm with multiple level encasement of the brachial plexus. Lipomas with brachial plexus involvement are rare and can present with a range of symptoms and distortion of local anatomy. Surgical debulking is challenging requiring microsurgical expertise for adequate removal and to minimize long-term neurological deficits.

Keywords

• Intramuscular lipoma
• Brachial plexus
• Brachialis muscle
• Intermuscular lipoma
• Ultrasonography
• MRI