Lipomas of the retropharyngeal region are rare, slow-growing tumours that attain a large size before producing symptoms such as dysphagia and dyspnoea. Clinical diagnosis may be difficult. However computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is the investigation of choice and helps in definitive diagnosis preoperatively, although final histological confirmation is essential. Surgery is the treatment of choice. In the following paper we report a case of retropharyngeal lipoma presenting with dysphagia which was managed surgically with complete amelioration of symptoms.