Causes
The causes of lipoma on the abdomen and abdominal wall are not yet sufficiently understood. There must be an excessive activation of the growth factors of the fat cells at a certain location, which explains the increase in fat tissue. However, there are no further indications of the causes as yet.
However, there seems to be an increased incidence of lipomas in relatives, which indicates a genetic predisposition. The occurrence of lipomas in the abdominal cavity is one of the rarer localizations of lipomas. Since it is difficult to feel and thus assess deep-seated lipomas, it is essential to examine a sample of the removed tissue under a microscope.
This makes it possible to rule out that the tissue is not malignant after all. For the operation, the surgeon must of course enter the abdominal cavity and, depending on the position of the lipoma, a small or even larger abdominal incision is required. If, for example, vital vessels or nerves are surrounded by the lipoma, the operation must be performed very carefully and requires a good view of the operating area, which is made possible by a larger skin incision.
Therapy
The lipoma on the abdomen and abdominal wall often shows few symptoms. Sometimes, however, pain can still occur or it is perceived by those affected as disturbing or even disfiguring. The pain can only be combated to a limited extent with medication.
In this case, and also for cosmetic reasons, the lipoma or lipomas on the abdomen can be surgically removed under local anesthesia. In the case of a higher number of lipomas or lower growth, general anesthesia may also be necessary. In this case, the complete lipoma is removed and then histologically examined for reasons of tissue preservation.
The removed tissue is stained, for example, and evaluated more precisely under the microscope. After suturing the wound, a sterile dressing is applied and regularly checked. If the wound has healed successfully, a scar may remain.
This therapy can reduce the pressure caused by the lipoma on the surrounding tissue, such as nerves, and thus eliminate the pain. Alternatively, liposuction (liposection) can be used to treat lipomas, but this is not possible in all cases and should therefore be evaluated by a physician. A lipoma can be removed surgically.
This becomes necessary especially when it causes discomfort, becomes too large or for aesthetic reasons.The removal of the lipoma can take place without anesthesia, i.e. only with local anesthesia, so that the operation is perceived but not felt as painful. In order to get to the lipoma, a skin incision up to the capsule of the fat tumor is necessary. Then the lipoma including the capsule is cut out or “pulled out”.
The wound is then sutured and treated with a sterile dressing. Depending on the size of the lipoma, it may be necessary to insert a drainage to allow the wound fluid to drain away. The surgical removal of a lipoma, like any surgery, carries its risks, such as bleeding, wound infection, wound healing disorders, injury to surrounding structures and the like. Subsequently, the removed tissue material is histologically examined to rule out malignant findings.
