What should I do about a lipoma?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Lipomas are superficial tumors that belong to benign tumors. They occur due to the proliferation of subcutaneous fatty tissue. A B-ultrasound examination is required for confirming the diagnosis of a lipoma. If the patient shows no significant clinical symptoms and the tumor is relatively small, it is generally advisable to schedule regular check-ups; medications, massage, or physiotherapy are all ineffective. If the lipoma is relatively large, or if the patient experiences localized pain, surgical removal can be considered, which can be done under local anesthesia.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Do lipomas grow?

Lipoma is a type of tumor on the surface of the body, which is relatively common in clinical practice and often occurs in the limbs and trunk. After the development of a lipoma, a mass generally appears under the skin; the mass is tough and lobulated or flat, and the surface skin remains intact, which can be used to diagnose a lipoma. Once a lipoma develops, it may grow larger, but the growth rate is generally slow, and there are usually no obvious clinical symptoms. If a patient notices that the lipoma is enlarging, surgical removal can be considered.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How to eliminate lipomas?

Lipomas are relatively common superficial tumors, which are benign tumors caused by subcutaneous fat proliferation. If a lipoma does not cause any obvious clinical symptoms and is relatively small, it may not require treatment. Clinically, if removal of the lipoma is desired, the only treatment is surgical removal. Under local anesthesia, the lipoma can be excised and the surgical incision sutured up to complete the procedure. Medication, physiotherapy, massage, etc., cannot eliminate lipomas. Therefore, as mentioned above, surgery is the only method to remove lipomas.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Do lipomas infect other people?

Lipomas are non-contagious and are tumorous formations of normal fatty tissue, often found in the limbs and trunk. They generally have clear boundaries, are soft in texture, and may feel cystic without causing pain. Lipomas grow slowly and can sometimes become very large. For most lipomas, observation is sufficient, and diagnosis can be confirmed through ultrasonography. Most patients do not require surgical treatment. However, if there is suspicion of malignancy in deeper lipomas, timely surgical removal is necessary. For lipomas that grow rapidly, cause symptoms, or affect appearance, early surgical intervention is also recommended. If pathology confirms the diagnosis, some lipomas may be liposarcomas. Most can be assessed for risk, and further treatment might be needed.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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Treatment of Lipoma

Lipomas are a common type of benign tumor that we see clinically. Most cases are benign, and malignant transformation is very rare. Lipomas consist of normal, fatty-like tissue and primarily occur on the limbs and trunk. They have clear boundaries, are lobulated in appearance, soft in texture, and may feel like a false cyst. They are painless and grow slowly. Some can grow very large, and deep-seated ones may undergo malignant transformation and should be treated surgically in a timely manner. In terms of treatment for lipomas, medication is ineffective. Small lipomas can be monitored periodically. If a lipoma is large, affects daily life or aesthetics, or is a deep-seated lipoma that might become malignant, surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Lipoma CT presentation

Lipomas are relatively common clinically and are one of the more frequent types of superficial tumors, commonly occurring on the limbs and trunk. Generally, a physical examination and ultrasound are sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of a lipoma, and there is no need for the patient to undergo a CT scan. However, if a CT scan is performed, lipomas can present in the following ways: first, a regular or lobulated mass may be found under the skin with sparse blood flow and a regular shape; second, on a CT scan, lipomas appear as low-density lesions, with CT values typically ranging between -70 HU to -90 HU. Diagnosis of a lipoma can be confirmed through these two observations.