Symptoms

Mostly lipomas in the breast do not show any particular symptoms. They are only to be felt as lumps under the skin and are usually soft and movable. They do not normally cause any pain. Only in certain situations, such as when direct pressure is applied or certain movements in which the lipoma is stretched or pressed, can this cause discomfort.

Diagnosis

The size of lipomas in the breast can vary greatly, the longest diameter can be between one and more than ten centimeters. However, in most cases lipomas are less than five centimeters in size when they are discovered and grow very slowly. Depending on the size, the respective palpation findings are then also revealed.

The first time a lump under the skin is felt, a doctor should always be consulted as soon as possible to clarify the situation and, if necessary, to rule out a malignant tumor. The physician then assesses the tumor on the basis of certain criteria, such as its mobility, consistency or ability to be separated from the surrounding tissue, and may order further imaging. This can be carried out using ultrasound, an X-ray or even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computer tomography (CT).

Ultrasound can be used in particular to visualize lipomas in the subcutaneous fatty tissue that are not very deep. If this is the case, the doctor can use this method to distinguish a lipoma from other cyst-like tumors. If the findings cannot be clearly diagnosed by imaging either, a tissue sample can be taken from it in order to be able to assess it accurately under the microscope.

This is the procedure by which the malignancy of the tumor can be assessed with final certainty. If the lipoma is localized in the breast, mammography is also available as a possible diagnostic procedure. Lipomas in the breast are usually removed in their entirety to minimize the risk of a malignant tumor from the outset.