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should i worry about a lipoma?
3 minute read
lipomas are usually round or oval-shaped, colourless and sit just beneath the surface of the skin. getty
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a lipoma is a non-cancerous, fatty lump that slowly develops beneath the surface of the skin. formed by the accumulation of fat cells, lipomas rarely grow larger than two centimetres in diameter and can develop anywhere in the body fat cells are found. lipomas aren’t painful and seldom require treatment unless they become bothersome. commonly found on the back, shoulders, neck and torso, lipomas affect around one in 1,000 people, according to the cleveland clinic. they usually develop between the ages of 40 and 60 and are slightly more common in men than women.
lipomas are harmless and usually left in place unless they become unsightly or their growth causes them to put pressure on other structures inside the body. doctors aren’t sure what causes lipomas to form, but there is a genetic component and the likelihood of diagnosis increases if you have a family member who has had one. people with madelung’s disease, a rare condition that most commonly affects men between the ages of 30 and 70 who drink excessively, are also at risk for developing lipomas. lipomas can sometimes appear after an injury.
lipomas can sometimes be mistaken for liposarcoma, a type of cancer. unlike a lipoma, which forms just below the surface of the skin and tends to grow on the back, shoulders, neck and torso, liposarcoma forms deeper within the body, usually in the abdomen or thighs, and comes along with symptoms like pain, swelling, and weight fluctuations. liposarcoma can spread through the body.
what does a lipoma look like?
many people with lipomas don’t experience any symptoms unless they happen to form near a nerve or joint. lipomas are usually round or oval-shaped, colourless and sit just beneath the surface of the skin; soft, slow-growing and slightly moveable to the touch; encapsulated and don’t spread to surrounding tissue; smaller than two centimetres in diameter; and not painful (although this depends on the location of the lipoma).
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how is a lipoma diagnosed?
according to healthline, a doctor will typically perform a physical examination to determine if a patient has a lipoma. this can involve a referral to a dermatologist who may take a biopsy during removal to confirm the lump is a lipoma and not liposarcoma. in the rare case that it is a liposarcoma, further testing, including an mri or ct scan, will likely be required.
what is the treatment for a lipoma?
treatment usually isn’t required for a lipoma, but the most common way of dealing with one is to remove it surgically during an outpatient visit. after administering a local anesthetic, a dermatologist will make a small incision, remove the growth and stitch up the opening. sometimes, liposuction may be used to reduce the size of a lipoma but the only way to guarantee it won’t return is to remove it completely (particularly if part of the lipoma lies beneath muscle and is hard to reach through liposuction).
can i prevent a lipoma?
there is currently no way to prevent lipomas, however, because lipomas are often caused by madelung’s disease, reducing alcohol consumption may help.
how many people have had a lipoma?
lipomas can occur at any age, according to myhealth alberta, but usually appear during middle age. single lipomas are equally common among men and women but cases involving multiple lipomas occur more frequently in men. it is estimated that lipomas affect around one per cent of the population.
more lipoma information
if you think you have a lipoma and find it bothersome, the best way to deal with it is to talk to your doctor about removal. for more information about lipomas, visit myhealth alberta.
dave yasvinski is a toronto-based writer.
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