Transanal resection of a colonic lipoma, mimicking rectal prolapse.

PURPOSE: Colonic lipomas are benign tumors usually asymptomatic. Occasionally, they may cause symptoms such as bleeding, intussusception, obstruction, or rectal prolapse.

METHODS

We present a 44-year-old African-American female that presented with an 8 cm colonic lipoma protruding through the anal verge. We also reviewed all the reported cases in the English literature.

RESULTS

The patient was treated successfully with transanal resection, which has rarely been done before for this large a tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Transanal resection of large benign tumors of the rectosigmoid is possible.