Diagnosis | Lipoma on the shoulder

Diagnosis

Lipomas are usually detected when they already have a palpable size and appear unnatural to the patient. To diagnose a lipoma of the shoulder, the clinical examination is the best measure. The doctor palpates the tumor on the shoulder and can estimate its consistency, limitation and depth. With a few questions about the initial appearance, pain or accompanying symptoms, the suspected diagnosis of lipoma is quickly made. To exclude a malignant tumor, an ultrasound is made and possibly supplemented by tissue samples

Therapy

A lipoma on the shoulder does not need to be treated in many cases. Especially small, millimeter-sized lipomas in particular do not cause any symptoms and are at most cosmetically restrictive. If the patient still wishes to have a lipoma on the shoulder, it can easily be removed in a minor operation. Conservative or drug-based measures are either ineffective or non-existent. It is also possible to remove a lipoma from the shoulder by suction, but these usually grow back, so surgery is still the best option.

How is a lipoma on the shoulder removed?

Lipomas of the shoulder can be removed surgically or by suction, which is called liposuction. Liposuction is often preferred to classical surgical removal, especially for larger lipomas. The removal is usually performed under local anesthesia and does not require general anesthesia.General or short anaesthesia may be necessary only in cases of explicit patient request or very large and deep growing lipomas.

A lipoma can be removed in different ways. In this regard, the following articles may also be of importance to you:

  • Treatment of a lipoma – ultrasound or surgery?
  • Homeopathy for a lipoma

An operation to remove the lipoma is the best remedy. If a small lipoma is found on the shoulder, the surgery is limited to local anesthesia around the affected area, and then a small skin incision is made over the lipoma to express the contents.

Only in the case of very large or deeper lying lipomas may surgery with general anesthesia be necessary. The surgeon then prepares the lipoma and removes it completely. If the patient complains of multiple lipomas on the shoulder, a major operation is indicated, which removes each lipoma.

Often scars remain after the operation, but these can only be seen on closer inspection. Surgery always involves risks such as infections, problems with anesthesia and injuries to surrounding structures. However, these are very rare when operating on a lipoma of the shoulder.

The removal of a shoulder lipoma is always performed under local or general anesthesia. The actual removal is therefore not painful. Under local anesthesia, only a slight pressure may be felt, but not pain.

Once the effect of the local anesthetic has worn off, slight pain in the operated area is normal. However, with light painkillers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac, the pain is easily controlled. Even slight cooling and protection of the affected area can help to minimize the pain. Severe pain can occur if the wound has become inflamed as a complication of wound healing. In this case you should visit the treating physician and report on the symptoms.