Do lipomas require hospitalization?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Lipomas belong to superficial tumors and are categorized as benign. They are caused by the proliferation of subcutaneous adipose tissue. If treatment is desired, surgery is an option. Medication or other treatments are ineffective. If the lipoma is small, it can be surgically removed in an outpatient setting, typically under local anesthesia. For a larger lipoma, it is recommended that the patient be hospitalized for surgery, which involves intravenous anesthesia combined with local anesthesia to remove the lipoma.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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The difference between lipoma and liposarcoma

Lipomas and liposarcomas are both relatively common diseases in clinical practice. Lipoma is a benign tumor, which refers to the nodular lesions formed by subcutaneous fat hyperplasia. The tumor has clear boundaries, a complete capsule, a soft texture, and grows slowly. Clinically, it can be treated by surgical removal, requiring only local excision. Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor of fat, originating from the interlobular fat tissue. The tumor lacks a capsule, has unclear boundaries, a harder texture, and grows rapidly. Clinically, after diagnosing liposarcoma, surgery must be performed. The scope of the surgery is relatively large, requiring the removal of the lesion and the surrounding tissues to achieve a radical cure.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Can lipomas be treated with moxibustion?

Lipomas are relatively common subcutaneous tumors that often occur on the limbs and trunk. They consist of fatty tissue and generally do not present clinical symptoms. Patients with lipomas can undergo moxibustion treatment, a traditional Chinese medical practice that is beneficial for health. However, moxibustion does not treat lipomas, and it does not cause lipomas to shrink or disappear. Clinically, the only way to remove a lipoma is through surgical excision.

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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.

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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.