Lipoma and liposarcoma

What is a lipoma?

A lipoma is a non-cancerous tumor which is made up of fat cells It grows slowly under the skin in the subcutaneous tissue. A person may have a single lipoma or may have many lipomas. They are very common.

Who gets lipomas?

Lipomas can occur in people of all ages, however, they tend to develop in adulthood and are most noticeable during middle age. They affect both sexes equally, although solitary lipomas are more common in women, while multiple lipomas occur more frequently in men.

What causes lipomas?

The cause of lipomas is unknown. It is possible that there could be genetic participation since many patients with lipomas come from a family with a history of these tumors. Sometimes an injury such as a blunt blow to a part of the body can trigger the growth of a lipoma.

What are the signs and symptoms?

People are often unaware of lipomas until they have grown enough to become visible and palpable. This growth occurs slowly over several years. Some characteristics of lipomas include:

• A dome- or egg-shaped lump about 2-10 cm in diameter (some may grow even larger)
• It feels soft and smooth and moves easily under the skin with your fingers.
• Some have a rubbery or pasty consistency
• They are most common on the shoulders, neck, trunk, and arms, but they can appear anywhere on the body where there is adipose tissue.

Most lipomas are symptomless, but some are painful when pressure is applied. Lipomas that are tender or painful are usually angiolipomas. This means that the lipoma has a greater number of small blood vessels. Painful lipomas are also a feature of painful adiposis or Dercum disease.

How was the diagnosis made?

The diagnosis of lipoma is usually made clinically by finding a soft lump under the skin. However, if there is any doubt, a skin deep biopsy can be performed that will show typical histopathological characteristics of lipoma and its variants.

Liposarcoma

The rare fatty Cancer, liposarcoma, almost never arises on the skin. Liposarcoma is a deep-seated tumor, and most often grows in the thigh, groin, or back of the abdomen. If your lipoma becomes larger or painful, see your doctor. A skin biopsy may be required to exclude liposarcoma.

What treatment is available?

Most lipomas do not require treatment. Most lipomas eventually stop growing and remain indefinitely without causing any problems. Occasionally, lipomas that interfere with movement of adjacent The muscles may require surgical removal. There are several methods available:

• simple surgical excision
• Compression technique (a small incision is done on the lipoma and the fatty tissue is squeezed through the hole)
• Liposuction