From the Guidelines
Lipomas can occur throughout the entire body, as they are benign tumors made up of fat cells that can develop in nearly any part of the body where fat is present.
Key Points
- Lipomas are most commonly found on the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms, and thighs, but they can potentially develop anywhere with adipose tissue 1.
- Some individuals may develop multiple lipomas simultaneously in different body locations, a condition called lipomatosis.
- These growths are typically soft, movable, and painless, ranging in size from small pea-sized lumps to larger masses.
- Most lipomas grow slowly and remain relatively small, rarely exceeding 2-3 inches in diameter.
- The exact cause of lipomas isn't fully understood, but genetic factors likely play a role, and they tend to be more common in adults between 40-60 years old 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- While generally harmless and requiring no treatment, lipomas should be evaluated by a healthcare provider if they grow rapidly, become painful, or cause cosmetic concerns.
- Surgical removal is an option if necessary, and ultrasound can be used to discriminate benign from malignant soft tissue masses 1.
- The British Sarcoma Group has produced guidance to help primary care practitioners and ultrasonographers identify which lipomatous masses identified on ultrasound need referral to sarcoma unit, and those which can be managed by local services 1.
From the Research
Lipoma Presentation
- Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that can occur in various parts of the body, including the subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck, shoulders, and back 2.
- They can also be found in other areas, such as the visceral organs, and can be isolated or part of a syndrome 3.
- Lipomas can be classified into different categories, including solitary lipomas, familial multiple lipomatosis, and congenital diffuse lipomatosis 4.
- They can also be categorized based on their location, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, or visceral lipomas 5.
Distribution and Prevalence
- Lipomas can occur in all age groups, but they usually first appear between 40 and 60 years of age 2.
- They are the most common soft-tissue tumors and can be found in various parts of the body, including the skin, muscles, and visceral organs 4, 3.
- Some cases of lipomatosis, such as multiple symmetric lipomatosis, can affect large areas of the body, including the neck, shoulders, and back 3.
Variants and Associated Conditions
- There are several variants of lipomas, including angiolipomas, neomorphic lipomas, spindle cell lipomas, and adenolipomas 2.
- Lipomas can be associated with various syndromes, such as hereditary multiple lipomatosis, adiposis dolorosa, Gardner's syndrome, and Madelung's disease 2, 3.
- They can also be part of larger syndromes, such as PIK3CA-related disorders, Cowden/PTEN hamartomas-tumor syndrome, and neurofibromatosis type 1 3.