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A lipoma is usually a slowly growing lesion under the skin. It can occur singly or in larger clusters. Lipomas are benign tumors of the connective tissue. They are not a he alth hazard - although it may be an aesthetic problem. Should lipomas be removed? In what situations can they become dangerous?

Lipomait is a non-neoplastic, benign tumor composed of fat cells, the so-called adipocytes, surrounded by a connective tissue capsule (the presence of which indicates the benign nature of the tumor).

Lipomas are harmless to he alth, but if they start to develop in the area of ​​internal organs, they can start to cause he alth problems.

It is usually oval or oblong in shape and can vary in size - from a few millimeters to several centimeters. If it arises under the skin, it is relatively easy to recognize: it is a painless, soft lump that can move a bit. Usually it occurs singly, but there are also clusters of lipomas. It is worth adding that lipomas are growing very slowly, but they are growing. Large ones can be a serious cosmetic defect.

Causes of lipomas

  • People aged 40-60 are most likely to develop lipomas , although such changes can develop in both older and younger people.
  • The root cause of lipomas is not fully understood, but they are probably genetic changesdue to . If we have lipomas in our family, we are at greater risk.
  • Lipomas form more oftenin overweight people . Studies have been carried out in mice that have shown a relationship between the gene associated with obesity and the development of lipoma.
  • Other studies have shown thatlipomas "like" to develop in places where there was previously some trauma, wound .
  • Lipomas are also favored by Cowden's disease, characterized by numerous non-cancerous nodules, but also a tendency to develop ovarian cancer, breast cancer and thyroid cancer, and Gardner's syndrome, a rare disease with multiple polyps in the large intestine.

What do lipomas look like and where are they?

Fat lumps appear most often on the neck,arms, back, thighs or stomach, just under the skin.

A lipstick is asoft "pillow" which deforms for a moment when pressed , but does not cause pain. The skin in this area looks normal, is not reddened, and is not flaky. Sometimes there are more fatty tumors in one site, but it's still not a worrying situation.

If you notice a similar change or changes on your body, it is most likely lipomas. However, despite everything, you should visit a specialist, for example a family doctor, who will dispel any doubts.

A lipoma can be confused with a liposarcoma, which is usually located much deeper than the lipoma.Liposarcomais a sarcoma - a malignant tumor. In case of doubt about the diagnosis, the doctor should order computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. You can also perform a biopsy and histopathological examination.

Can a lipoma be a he alth hazard?

Sometimeslipoma forms inside the body , around vital organs, on the kidneys, liver, and even in the heart. If it is near a highly innervated area, it can exert pressure that is already painful. If it grows close to the vessel, it can contribute to the development of hypertension, causing swelling.

When it is placed on the kidney, it sometimes interferes with its work, while on the liver - it can cause jaundice. If a lipoma forms in the intestine, it can disrupt the digestive tract, abdominal pain and even rectal bleeding. By compressing the lungs, it can cause breathing disorders, etc.

Detecting such a lipoma is much more difficult than the subcutaneous one. Often a long road and many detailed tests lead to diagnosis, such as colonoscopy (in the case of gastrointestinal symptoms) or computed tomography.

Lipoma removal

Mostlysurgical removal of the lipomais not a complicated operation, but it depends on two factors:

  • where the lipoma is located
  • and its size

Small changes are not moved at all, but you have to watch them. Larger ones are removed if they are inconvenient for the patient, disturb, disfigure or cause discomfort. Due to the fact that lipomas grow, sometimes it is worth considering the procedure, because the smaller the lesion, the less invasive the surgery will be and the smaller the scar.

Lipoma removal methods

  • surgical procedure- performed under local anesthesia,skin incision and tumor extraction. The wound is sutured and the seams are removed after a week. The exfoliated lipoma is submitted for histopathological examination
  • steroid injections- they reduce the size of the lesion, but do not completely eliminate it. This method eliminates the possibility of examining the tumor for histopathology, so it is unlikely to be recommended.
  • liposuction- procedure performed under general or local anesthesia. Through a small incision, the fat from which the tumor is made is suctioned with a probe. The connective tissue bag is then withdrawn. The wound after such surgery is small and the scar regenerates quickly, which is why liposuction is usually used in patients with multiple, small lipomas.
About the authorMarta Uler A journalist specializing in he alth, beauty and psychology. She is also a diet therapist by education. Her interests are medicine, herbal medicine, yoga, vegetarian cuisine and cats. I am a mother of two boys - a 10-year-old and a 6-month-old.

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Oncology