A head-sized tumor trapped at the base of his neck for 16 years—until surgery finally freed him
A 65-year-old man from Kirov, Russia, carried a lump the size of a human head at the base of his neck for 16 years. He refused hospital care, trying simple home remedies that offered no relief in the hope it would disappear on its own. When surgeons finally removed the growth, they found it to be a benign lipoma, a fatty lump that had weighed down his neck for years.
In This Article:
16 years of waiting: a lump at the neck base grows unchecked
For years the mass grew at the base of his neck while he avoided doctors. He reported applying simple ointments with no success. “Usually, such a tumor grows slowly and painfully, so many patients postpone a visit to a specialist, hoping that the formation will disappear on its own,” said Igor Popyrin, head of the surgical department.
Lipomas explained: what they are and why this one mattered
Lipomas are benign fatty lumps that sit between the skin and a layer of muscle. They typically remain doughy and about one to two inches across, but some can continue to grow or even twist. The Mayo Clinic notes that if a lipoma grows, no ointments or folk remedies will help; the only effective treatment is surgical removal.
A neck surgery with high stakes
The tumor lay near major blood vessels and nerves—the cervical plexus that connects to the spinal cord—making the operation exceptionally delicate. The doctors drew lines to estimate what the neck would look like without the tumor, and the patient had to lie on his side throughout the procedure because he could not safely lie on his back.
The outcome and the broader lesson
The tumor was removed and identified as a benign lipoma. Doctors were amazed by the case and its outcome. The episode underscores the danger of delaying medical care and the limits of home remedies when a growing lump presents a real risk, reminding us that timely professional evaluation matters.
