Sen. Lamar Alexander Undergoes Surgery for Benign Leg Tumor

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. (U.S. Congress)Sen. Lamar Alexander underwent surgery Wednesday morning to remove a benign tumor in his leg, his office said.

Alexander, R-Tenn., 78, is in his third term in the Senate. He announced last year that he will not run for reelection in 2020.

David Cleary, Alexander’s chief of staff, said in a statement that the senator underwent surgery Wednesday morning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, to remove a fatty tumor called a lipoma from his left leg.

The doctor who performed the surgery said the lipoma, which he described as “atypical,” had been successfully removed. He added that he will “consult with my team and Senator Alexander to determine whether additional treatment is necessary.”

Alexander “looks forward to returning to Senate work shortly after the recess,” Cleary said.