Chondrolipoma of head and neck: Case report and review of literature

Background Chondrolipoma is a rare form of a benign mesenchymal tumor containing mature cartilage and fatty tissue. Chondrolipomas may be found in almost any part of the body, particularly in the connective tissue of the breast, head and neck area, and in the skeletal muscle. Methods We present the case of a 51-year-old woman complaining of 8 to 9 months of intermittent right cheek swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scans showed a 4.0-cm fat-containing mass involving the right masseter muscle. Results The patient was taken to the operating room for excision of the mass. The final pathologic diagnosis was chondrolipoma. Conclusions We describe a case of a chondrolipoma in the masseter muscle.