Lipoma – causes, types. How are lipomas treated?

Proven content

A lipoma is a typical benign tumor that emerges from mature adipose tissue. The lipoma most often occurs on the trunk. The skin above the lipoma is unchanged, and the tumor itself is more cohesive than the surrounding subcutaneous tissue. It is painless and does not cause any discomfort. The nature of the tumor should be assessed by a physician.

Lipacz – what is it?

A lipoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor made of adipose tissue. A typical lipoma is a small, soft, rubbery lump just under the skin. They are usually painless and are most common on the upper back, shoulders, arms, buttocks, and upper thighs. Less commonly, lipomas can be found in the deeper tissues of the thigh, shoulder or calf.

Although lipomas can occur at any age, they most often appear between the ages of 40 and 60. They are the most common soft tissue tumors in adults and are slightly more common in men than in women. It is possible to have more than one lipoma.

Lipomas do not usually change after formation and have very little potential for malignancy. They often do not require any treatment other than being monitored by you and your doctor. However, if the lipoma is painful or continues to grow in size, it can be removed with surgery.

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Lipoma – types

Different types of lipomas have been identified based on the specific structure of the tumor, which is visible in microscopic examination, and the clinical picture:

1. angiolipoma – microscopic examination reveals numerous blood vessels; the disease is surrounded by connective tissue; this type of lipoma rarely turns into a malignant tumor;
2. winter worm – a rare type of lipoma, mainly in young children; winterbird is a benign disease responsible (in the first months of life) for maintaining the proper body temperature;
3. lipoma – it is a well-defined, single lesion, easily palpable; the structure of the lipoma consists of adipose tissue cells, very modestly vascularized; this type of lipoma rarely develops into a malignant tumor;
4. lipoblastoma – is a lipoma most often diagnosed in young children and infants; although it is benign, it should be differentiated from malignant neoplasms;
5. myolipoma – a clearly delimited lipoma, does not show any predisposition towards malignancy, moreover, it is surrounded by a connective tissue bag;
6. myelolipoma – a lesion that, in addition to mature connective tissue cells, also contains bone marrow; has no tendency to become malignant and therefore has a good prognosis;
7. fusiform lipoma and multiforme lipoma – benign lesion – a disease that histopathologically shows small blood vessels and numerous adiopocytes; despite the lack of malignant features, it requires differentiation from malignant neoplasms.

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Lipomas – causes of formation

Although the etiology of lipomas is unclear, some studies have found a genetic link where about two-thirds of lipomas show genetic abnormalities. In addition to the possibility of a genetic link, another theory advocates that there is a direct positive correlation between trauma to an area of ​​the body and lipoma production.

Research shows an association between fat tumor growth as a post-traumatic event after direct impact on this area of ​​soft tissue. In addition to the risk factors listed above, other possible links that can lead to lipomas are obesity, alcohol abuse, liver disease, and glucose intolerance:

1. insult – direct impact on a given area of ​​the body. Research shows that experiencing a direct effect on the soft tissue area can increase the chances of developing lipomas.
2. diabetes – a chronic disease characterized by unusually high blood sugar (or glucose) levels when the pancreas does not make enough insulin. Diabetes mellitus may be linked to other diseases that are also linked to lipomas, such as Madelung’s disease,
3. high cholesterol – Also called hyperlipidaemia, high cholesterol is a medical condition with an abnormally high amount of fat or lipids in the blood. Lipomas are more common in people with high cholesterol than in people whose cholesterol is within the healthy range.
4. obesity – may increase the chances of developing lipomas, especially when there are other risk factors
5. multiple hereditary lipomatosis – a rare condition thought to be passed on by relatives and characterized by multiple lipomas in the abdomen, arms or legs.
6. Gardner’s syndrome A type of rare disease known as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), in which people with the disease develop polyps, tumors and lipomas, among others. People with Gardner’s syndrome are more likely than others to develop cancers, especially in and around the colon.
7. Madelung’s disease – also known as symmetrical lipomatous sclerosis. This rare disease is characterized by growths on the upper body, such as the neck, arms, shoulders, and chest. It primarily affects middle-aged men of Mediterranean descent with a history of long-term or heavy alcohol consumption.
8. Painful adiposity (Dercuma choroba) – a condition where lipomas or fat folds put pressure on the nerves and can be painful. This is especially common in overweight or obese women between the ages of 35 and 50.

In addition to additional medical conditions and genetics, other risk factors can also increase the risk of lipomas, including age and gender. Lipomas most likely appear between the ages of 40 and 60 and are slightly more common in men than in women.

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Lipoma – symptoms

Lipomas are lesions that can most often be found on the back, thighs, abdomen, neck or arms. They are very soft when touched, and when pressed, they deform for a moment, but without causing pain. Also, the skin at the site of the lesion is not reddened, inflamed or painful.

Lipomas slowly and gradually grow in size and may reach the size of a dozen or so centimeters in diameter and weigh up to several kilograms. Patients sometimes complain of a slight discomfort, which sometimes occurs as a result of the tumor pressing against adjacent structures. Lipomas in the area of ​​internal organs may cause symptoms such as:

1. anemia
2. arterial hypertension,
3. kidney malfunction,
4. jaundice
5. clotting problems,
6. swelling,
7. breathing problems (for large lipomas in the mediastinum).

In people with lipomas, general symptoms such as malaise or high temperature are unlikely to occur. Sometimes lipomas endanger the health or life of the patient, especially when they are formed inside the body. Lipomas located, for example, on the kidney, can interfere with its work, and on the liver – cause jaundice. In turn, lumps on the intestine can cause severe abdominal pain and even rectal bleeding.

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Lipoma – diagnosis

Anyone who notices a lipoma-like skin lesion should consult a doctor immediately. Diagnosis is usually based on a physical examination. Only in doubtful cases, when the doctor is not XNUMX% sure about the presence of a lipoma – an ultrasound examination of the skin lesion is ordered. In turn, the suspicion of cancer is confirmed only on the basis of the histopathological examination of the removed lipoma.

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Lipoma – treatment

Small lipomas do not require specialist treatment. However, it should be remembered that they have a tendency to grow, so they should be controlled and monitored. The surgical procedure is performed when the lipomas are a visible cosmetic defect and are deeper, which disrupt the proper functioning of internal organs.

The most common methods of lipoma removal are:

1. liposuction – during the procedure, a small probe is placed in the area of ​​the lesion to suck out the fat from the tumor; then the connective tissue bag is removed with forceps. Liposuction is recommended for people who have multiple lumps. Leaves no scars;
2. injecting the lesion with steroids – the drug is administered into the lesion in the form of injections performed several times; thanks to the injection, the nodules shrink, but are not completely removed; Unfortunately, this method excludes the possibility of examining the tumor for histopathology, therefore it is rarely recommended;
3. surgical excision of the lipoma – this is the basic procedure performed in the case of this ailment; during the procedure, the tissues are incised and then the lesion is removed together with the connective tissue capsule. The operation is performed under local anesthesia, and in the case of multiple lipomas – under general anesthesia. The procedure itself leaves slight scars.

Do you observe disturbing changes in yourself? Are you planning a lipoma removal procedure and have doubts? Schedule an online teleconsultation with a surgeon at haloDoctor.pl. The doctor will answer all your questions and show you the directions for further treatment.

Can lipomas be prevented?

Given the theory that lipomas are genetic in origin, there are no adequate preventive measures. The same applies to suspicions that the lesions arise from growth promotion and defective division of healthy fat cells. We can only avoid wounds and injuries, which also in some way increase the risk of lipomas.