When should one have a lipoma removed?

Definition

A lipoma is a benign tumor of the fatty tissue cells, also known as adipocytes. They are surrounded by a capsule and can therefore be easily distinguished from healthy tissue. They occur most frequently around subcutaneous fatty tissue, i.e. subcutaneously. The occurrence of several lipomas is called lipomatosis.

Origin

The origin of lipomas has not yet been clearly clarified. It is suspected that there is a misregulation in the differentiation of stem cells, which are precursor cells of connective tissue cells, into fat cells. They are often formed in the neck, on the spine, on the upper arm, in the arm pit or on the thighs (lipoma thigh).

Indication for removal

Depending on the area of skin, lipomas become palpable only at a size of 1cm. The affected persons then usually do not yet express any complaints. Lipomas often exist for years until they are discovered.

Spontaneously they can grow faster and take up more space, so that they become visible and cause symptoms. These only occur with larger lipomas or the position of the lipoma is very unfavorable and affects other structures. If lipomas cause symptoms, the indication is to remove them using one of the available methods.

Lipomas are primarily a cosmetic problem for most people when they are visible and cannot be covered by clothing. In addition, unpleasant pain can occur (see also: Pain caused by a lipoma). If adjacent structures such as nerves or blood vessels are functionally impaired by the size of the lipoma, it can also lead to neurological symptoms such as a feeling of pressure, numbness, tingling or circulatory problems.

At this point at the latest, surgical removal of the lipoma should be performed. If lipomas are located in unfavorable parts of the body such as the back or neck, they can be very disturbing when sitting leaning against the back of a chair or the collar of a shirt. Particularly on the flanks, child-headed lipomas are often found, which are particularly troublesome when wearing certain clothes or doing certain sports. Extremely rarely can the benign lipoma develop into a malignant liposarcoma. The suspicion can be confirmed by a histological examination, in which a tissue sample is examined under a microscope.