A lipoma is a fatty mass under the skin that can occur anywhere on the body. It can be painful, but often times is felt by a patient or spouse and can increase in size over time. These are best diagnosed by a physical exam or ultrasound. In most cases, these are removed as an outpatient procedure either in the office or at a surgery center.
A cyst is similar to a lipoma, in that it presents as a mass just under the skin and can occur anywhere on the body. A cyst, however, can present more acutely as an infection or even rupture draining pus. The treatment for a cyst is removal, unless it is infected, in which case the infection must be treated before it can be removed.
To diagnose a lipoma, your doctor may perform:
There's a very small chance that a lump resembling a lipoma may actually be a form of cancer called liposarcoma. Liposarcomas — cancerous tumors in fatty tissues — grow rapidly, don't move under the skin and are usually painful. A biopsy or an MRI or CT scan is typically done if your doctor suspects liposarcoma.
Often times no treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed. The treatment for lipoma is a surgical excision. Recurrences after removal are uncommon. Possible side effects are scarring and bruising. A technique known as minimal excision extraction may result in less scarring.
Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, too, including:
We would love to get you connected to one of our providers. Please fill out the following form to request an appointment. This form does not guarantee we have available times, it helps us get the ball rolling.
