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Lipoma
What department should I go to for a lipoma?
For lipomas, patients generally visit general surgery, although there are rare cases where dermatology or plastic surgery consultations may be appropriate. Lipomas are the most common type of benign tumors found on the body's surface, typically formed by an accumulation of normal adipose tissue cells and are mostly located subcutaneously, such as on the shoulders, back, buttocks, and inner thighs. Lipomas can usually be examined through ultrasound, which helps specify the location, size, and texture of the tumor, as well as preliminarily assess its blood supply. Surgical removal is the only effective treatment for lipomas, but most do not require surgery because lipomas rarely become malignant, often appear in multiples, generally do not affect appearance, and usually grow slowly, having little impact on health.
Symptoms of lipoma malignancy
Lipomas are considered benign lesions, but some lipomas may undergo malignant transformation into liposarcomas. If a lipoma becomes malignant, its appearance may change, such as an increase in size, indistinct borders, hardening of the lipoma, and it may even cause pain in the area of the lipoma, with the possibility of local thrombosis and other conditions. It is necessary to visit a hospital promptly for examination and treatment. When necessary, the lipoma should be completely excised and sent for pathological examination to facilitate further treatment. If it is confirmed to be malignant, a wider excision may be needed, and, if necessary, the surrounding lymph nodes may need to be cleared.
Will the removal of a lipoma leave a scar?
The removal of a lipoma generally does not significantly affect wound recovery, as the incision for a lipoma is a clean cut with no infection or contamination. However, some patients may develop significant scarring not due to infection but due to their scar-prone nature. Over time, the scarring from such cuts does not decrease in these patients, and corrective cosmetic surgery might be necessary to address the prominent scars. Therefore, it is important to consult with patients before lipoma surgery to determine if they are prone to scarring. If not, normal lipoma removal does not usually leave noticeable scars.
How to relieve the pain of a lipoma?
Lipomas are generally located in typical spots and are mostly a benign condition that does not become malignant. Lipomas have a clear capsule, are lobulated, and have a soft texture, generally not susceptible to infection causing pain. The main reasons for pain are typically frequent movement at joint areas or long-term irritation by external factors. Therefore, upon experiencing pain, different treatment measures should be adopted based on the specific situation. If the lipoma is subjected to long-term frequent friction, reducing external irritants can help alleviate the pain. If the lipoma is located at important joint areas, surgical removal may be necessary to relieve pain symptoms. If the lipoma causes an infection, anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be carried out, followed by surgical treatment once symptoms have improved.
Can lipomas disappear?
Lipomas generally do not disappear on their own. They form due to abnormal or excessive growth in the subcutaneous fat, presenting as localized lumps with an outer membrane encapsulating them. Lipomas are typically soft with high mobility and well-defined borders. Small lipomas usually do not require surgical treatment; close monitoring to check for changes in size is sufficient. However, if a lipoma is large, causes local compression symptoms, or pain, surgical removal may be considered.
Symptoms of lipoma
Lipomas are common in clinical settings and often occur on the limbs and trunk. Lipomas are benign tumors, and their clinical manifestations are primarily subcutaneous, presenting as a flat, irregular, or lobulated mass. The surface of these masses does not show redness or rupture, and they can generally be moved. Lipomas have a firm or soft texture. These are the most typical clinical manifestations of lipomas. Some patients may experience localized discomfort, and surgery can be performed to remove the lipoma after it has developed.
Is surgery recommended for lipomas?
Whether lipomas need surgical treatment often depends on the location, size of the lipoma, and whether it causes related clinical symptoms. If the lipoma grows too fast during observation, is in a special location, or severely affects appearance, surgical treatment can be considered. Alternatively, if the lipoma shows evident symptoms like localized redness, pain, surface itchiness, and uneven surfaces, timely color ultrasound re-examination should be done as malignancy cannot be ruled out, and timely surgical removal and biopsy are necessary. Thirdly, if the lipoma grows too quickly and causes compression symptoms, damaging other organs, surgical treatment should also be considered. Generally, lipomas are benign lesions, but there is also a possibility that they could develop into liposarcomas, which should be confirmed based on postoperative biopsy.
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.
How is lipoma treated?
Lipoma is a common disease in our clinical practice. Most lipoma patients have a benign tumor, which is a tumorous mass of normal fatty tissue, commonly found on the limbs and trunk, with clear boundaries, lobulated, soft in texture, possibly pseudo-cystic, painless, slow-growing, and some may be very large. For deep lipomas that may have the potential for malignancy, timely surgical removal is necessary. For small lipomas, we generally observe them periodically. If the tumor is large and affects normal life or aesthetics, surgical removal can be considered. For deep lipomas, where there is a suspicion of malignant transformation, timely surgery is advisable for treatment.
What should I do if my lipoma hurts?
Lipomas are relatively common in clinical settings and are benign tumors on the body surface, often found on the limbs and trunk. Generally, they don't cause obvious clinical symptoms except for the appearance of a lump under the skin. The lump is usually flat, and the skin surface remains intact, though this is not absolute. Some patients may experience pain in the lipoma, particularly when lipomas appear symmetrically on the limbs, causing localized pain. In such cases, surgical treatment is recommended, which can be performed under local anesthesia to remove the lipoma and alleviate the pain.