Laparoscopic Management of Gastric Submucosal Lipomas: A Case Series

Abstract

Gastric lipomas are exceedingly rare benign mesenchymal tumors of the stomach, representing less than 1% of all gastric neoplasms and approximately 5% of all gastrointestinal lipomas. While often discovered incidentally, they can cause significant morbidity when they reach a large size. This report describes the laparoscopic management of two symptomatic cases of large gastric submucosal lipomas and provides a comprehensive review of the diagnostic criteria and surgical management strategies for this condition. We present two male patients, aged 50 and 71 years, who presented with symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction, including upper abdominal pain and recurrent vomiting. Diagnostic imaging revealed large, well-circumscribed submucosal masses in the antrum and pylorus of the stomach. Both patients were successfully treated with laparoscopic excision and improved without complications. Laparoscopic intervention is a safe, effective, and definitive treatment for symptomatic gastric lipomas. Preoperative diagnosis is reliably achieved using computed tomography (CT) and endoscopy, allowing for organ-preserving surgical planning.