Lipoma (fatty tumor)

Abdomen | General Practice | Lipoma (fatty tumor) (Disease)


Description

A lipoma is a benign tumor composed of adipose tissue. It is the most common form of soft tissue tumor. Lipomas are soft to the touch, usually movable, and are generally painless. Many lipomas are small (under one centimeter diameter) but can enlarge to sizes greater than six centimeters. Lipomas are commonly found in adults from 40 to 60 years of age, but can also be found in children. Some sources claim that malignant transformation can occur, while others say that this has yet to be convincingly documented.

It is a benign tumor located under the skin.

Causes and Risk factors

The cause of lipomas is not completely understood, but the tendency to develop them is inherited. A minor injury may trigger the growth. Being overweight does not cause lipomas.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A lipoma is composed of cells that produce fat that accumulates abnormally to form clusters or small, be a ball of elastic consistency. Lipoma size range from a few millimeters to ten centimeters. They can occur throughout the body, but are easier to locate on the elbows, arms or thighs. Lipoma poses no danger and no urgency. Their removal is done only in case of physical discomfort or cosmetic reasons. In rare cases, pain can motivate intervention when lipoma is the route you are compressing a nerve. There are two techniques to remove it so: surgical removal or liposuction. ...