Lipoma is a benign neoplasm of adipose tissue. Most often, lipoma is found in the subcutaneous tissue, but can also form in internal organs that have a fat layer.
Who can develop lipoma and how often does it occur?
Lipoma is a common pathology that can occur in any person and at any age. Most often, 1 or 2 lipomas are found, but some people may be prone to the formation of a dozen or more lipomas in different parts of the body. It can occur in both thin people and overweight people.
What are the symptoms of lipoma?
Usually, lipoma is located under the skin and looks like a clearly visible node of a round or oval shape, no more than 1.5-2 cm in diameter (sometimes large lipomas are also found). If the lipoma consists only of fat, it is soft to the touch. The more connective tissue it contains, the denser it is. The tumor is painless. Lipomas are most often found on the back, neck, shoulders, and hips. They can be single or multiple. Over time, the lipoma can increase in size.
Depending on the composition of the lipoma, there are:
- Lipoma - from adipose tissue.
- Fibrolipoma - from adipose and fibrous tissue.
- Angiolipoma - from adipose tissue and blood vessels.
- Myolipoma - from adipose and muscle tissue.
- Schwannolipoma - from adipose tissue with a mixture of nerve fibers.
What studies may be needed to confirm the diagnosis?
Most often, the diagnosis is made based on the results examination, but in some cases an ultrasound examination and puncture may be required, followed by a cytological examination. In rare cases, a CT or MRI scan may also be needed.
Large axillary lipoma
Palm lipoma
Hip lipoma
Lipoma of the forearm
Does a lipoma need treatment?
As a rule, surgeons do not recommend removing a lipoma unless it bothers the patient or increases in size. A lipoma does not disappear on its own, so if it begins to bother the patient or increases in size, it should be removed immediately and subjected to histological examination.
Treatment
A lipoma is removed under local anesthesia, through a small incision in 15-30 minutes; the operation ends with the application of a cosmetic suture. After the operation, the removed lipoma is sent for histological examination.
Why do we send the removed lipoma for histological examination?
This is necessary to make sure that it is indeed a lipoma and not a more dangerous disease (such as liposarcoma - occurs in 1% of cases).
Liposuction can be an alternative to surgery. In this case, the lipoma can recur (grow again) if it is not removed completely.
Despite the fact that the lipoma does not pose a great danger to life, depending on the location (lipomas of internal organs) and size, it can pose a threat.
A growing lipoma needs urgent surgery because:
- It may be malignant;
- Removing a small lipoma will leave a small postoperative scar, and removing a large lipoma will leave a large one.