From the Guidelines
Lipomas are typically mobile, as they are benign fatty tumors that can be moved around with gentle finger pressure due to their encapsulation within a thin fibrous capsule and lack of attachment to surrounding structures. These characteristics are key in distinguishing lipomas from other types of growths, such as atypical lipomatous tumors (ALT) or well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDL), which may have different clinical behaviors and management approaches 1. Some key points to consider about lipomas include:
- They are composed of mature fat cells that grow slowly beneath the skin
- They usually feel soft and doughy to the touch
- They can be shifted slightly under the skin rather than being fixed to deeper tissues
- Their mobility can be limited if they are located in areas with less tissue flexibility, such as between muscle layers
- A lack of mobility may indicate a different type of growth, warranting evaluation by a healthcare provider. It's also worth noting that while lipomas are generally mobile, some deeper lipomas may have less mobility, and in such cases, imaging studies like MRI, and sometimes molecular tests, may be necessary to differentiate them from more serious conditions like ALT or WDL, as discussed in the UK guidelines for the management of soft tissue sarcomas 1.
From the Research
Characteristics of Lipomas
- Lipomas are adipose tumors that are often located in the subcutaneous tissues of the head, neck, shoulders, and back 2
- They are slow-growing, nearly always benign, tumors that usually present as nonpainful, round, mobile masses with a characteristic soft, doughy feel 2
- Mobile encapsulated lipomas are a benign neoplastic process with pronounced mobility in the subcutaneous plane 3
Clinical Features
- Lipomas can occur in any location but are more common in areas in which there is an abundance of fatty tissue 4
- They may be unique or multiple, encapsulated or not, subcutaneous or sometimes visceral 5
- Lipomas on the head, neck, trunk, and extremities can range from 1 to 15 cm in diameter 6
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Lipomas must be distinguished from liposarcoma, which can have a similar appearance 2
- They can be removed by liposuction, yet this technique is seldom employed because of concerns that removal may be incomplete and recurrence may be more frequent than after conventional excision 6
- The combination of liposuction and excision is a safe alternative for lipoma removal; malignancy and recurrence are uncommon 6