For a decade, Liu Zhihe, a 56-year-old Chinese farmer, lived with a strange condition that completely transformed his physical appearance.
A gigantic lump began to grow slowly on his neck until it reached such a striking size that it ended up drawing the attention of media outlets and photographers from all over the world.
Images of the man went viral because of the shocking volume of the mass, identified as a giant lipoma, a benign tumor made up of fatty tissue that, in exceptional cases, can grow for years if left untreated.
Although lipomas are usually small and do not pose a serious danger, specialists consider those exceeding 10 centimeters in diameter to be “giant”.
According to case records, the growth accompanied Liu for more than ten years in his village in China’s Shandong province.
Over time, the deformity began to affect his daily life and appearance, turning him into a known figure far beyond his community.
The story generated thousands of reactions on the internet. While some users expressed surprise at the size the tumor had reached, others highlighted the farmer’s strength in continuing with his life despite such a visible condition.
Years later, the photographs continue to circulate on social media and still shock those who see them for the first time.