Summary
Definition
Lipomas are slow-growing, benign, mesenchymal tumours that form well-circumscribed, lobulated lesions composed of adipocytes. They are demarcated from surrounding fat by a thin, fibrous capsule. They comprise 50% of soft-tissue neoplasms and are commonly encountered by primary care physicians, surgeons, and pathologists.
[1]
Lipomas usually arise in the subcutaneous tissues and may occur in any area of the body, although they most frequently occur on the trunk and proximal limbs. They have no malignant potential, but the differential diagnosis includes liposarcomas, which do have this potential, so this must always be considered.
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]:
Subcutaneous lipoma on the trunk
From the collection of Dr Kimberly Moore Dalal and Dr Steven D. DeMartini; used with permission
[Citation ends].
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- cutaneous mass <5 cm diameter
- soft cutaneous mass
- mobile cutaneous mass
- superficial cutaneous mass
Other diagnostic factors
- painless cutaneous mass
- GI obstruction
- GI bleeding
- abdominal mass
- muscle weakness
- paraesthesia
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- MRI
- CT scan
- ultrasound
- core needle biopsy
- incisional biopsy
- excisional biopsy
- upper GI contrast study
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors VIEW ALL
Medical Director, Surgical Oncology
General Surgery
Peninsula Medical Clinic
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Burlingame
CA
Disclosures
KMD is an author of a number of references cited in this monograph.
Staff Pathologist
Oroville Hospital
Oroville
CA
Disclosures
SDD declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers VIEW ALL
Staff Surgeon
VA Boston Healthcare System
West Roxbury
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School (Brigham and Women's Hospital)
Boston
MA
Disclosures
JG declares that he has no competing interests.
Resident
Department of Dermatology
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem
NC
Disclosures
ADL declares that he has no competing interests.
Assistant Professor
Surgical Oncology
Department of Surgery
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha
NE
Disclosures
CA declares that he has no competing interests.
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgery
Section of Surgical Oncology
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison
WI
Disclosures
CC declares that he has no competing interests.
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