From the Research
Yes, a lipoma can bruise, and this typically occurs due to trauma or injury to the area surrounding the lipoma, leading to rupture of blood vessels and subsequent discoloration of the skin. A lipoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor made up of fat cells that typically forms just beneath the skin. While lipomas themselves don't usually bruise spontaneously, the tissue surrounding a lipoma can become bruised if the area experiences trauma or injury. This might happen if the lipoma is bumped, hit, or subjected to pressure. The bruising occurs because blood vessels in the area around the lipoma rupture, causing blood to leak into surrounding tissues. This appears as discoloration of the skin, typically starting as red or purple and changing to blue, green, and yellow as it heals 1.
Some key points to consider:
- Lipomas are the most common neoplasms encountered by physicians, ranging from benign lipomas to high-grade liposarcomas 1.
- The formation of lipomas after blunt soft tissue trauma is still a topic of controversy, with two potential mechanisms discussed: the formation of post-traumatic pseudolipomas and lipoma formation as a result of preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation mediated by cytokine release following soft tissue damage and hematoma formation 2, 3.
- If you notice bruising around a lipoma that occurs without injury or doesn't resolve within a couple of weeks, it's advisable to consult a healthcare provider, as persistent bruising could potentially indicate changes in the lipoma or another underlying condition that requires medical attention.
- Magnetic resonance images should be obtained for all soft-tissue masses that are deep to fascia or those >5 cm in subcutaneous tissue to rule out sarcomas, which can be avoided by understanding their diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging appearance 1.
In terms of management, it is essential to prioritize the patient's morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, and if the bruising is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, a thorough evaluation, including imaging studies, should be performed to rule out any underlying conditions that may require medical attention.