Mariano, Jonnerie J.

BSN 4G

August 16, 2011 Mrs. Thelma Dumo RN, MAN

What is a lipoma? y is a lump or mass that is made up of fat cells (adipocytes). y Lipomas are a common, benign (noncancerous) type of slow-growing tumor. They most often develop just under the skin in the subcutaneous tissue, located beneath the skin and above the muscle. y Lipomas can grow large in size, and multiple growths can develop, most commonly in the back, neck, shoulders or arms. Less commonly, lipomas can grow on almost any organ in the body. y Lipomas generally develop slowly, forming round, flattened lumps that are soft or spongy in texture and easily moved around under the skin. y Lipomas can be unsightly, but they usually do not cause any pain, discomfort or tenderness. y Lipomas may begin to grow after a tissue injury or trauma, and they tend to run in families. y Occurs in people who are middle-aged or older. In most cases, lipomas do not require treatment, although treatment is needed in some cases if the location or size of a lipoma causes pain, weakness, or other problems. y Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth. Causes y Not known y Family history appears to play a role. You are more likely to develop a lipoma if you have a parent or sibling with a lipoma. People who develop more than one lipoma may have an extremely rare inherited disorder called familial multiple lipomatosis. y Lipomas can also grow in subcutaneous tissue that has been injured or traumatized. Risk factors y Dercum disease (also known as adiposis dolorosa, which causes multiple painful lipomas and other serious problems, such as mental health and neurological issues) y Family history of lipomas y Familial multiple lipomatosis (rare inherited condition involving the development of multiple benign lipomas) y Gardner syndrome (rare inherited condition involving noncancerous or precancerous tissue masses that form in and under the skin and in different organs) y Middle age and older

What are the symptoms of a lipoma? y y y y Are small [0.4 in. (1 cm) to 1.2 in. (3 cm)] and felt just under the skin. Are movable and have a soft, rubbery consistency. Do not cause pain. Remain the same size over years or grow very slowly.

Diagnostic Studies and Procedures y GI contrast studies y Ultrasonograms y computed tomography (CT) scans, y magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. y All imaging techniques have been combined with fine-needle aspiration; this combination increases the accuracy of diagnosis. y Obtaining tissue samples from different tumor components is important, because it provides samples for histopathologic analysis by means of various techniques, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Treatments y Indications o Lipomas are removed for the following reasons:  Cosmetic reasons  To evaluate their histology, particularly when liposarcomas must be ruled out  When they cause symptoms  When they grow and become larger than 5 cm y Obtain biopsies of large lipomas or of those tethered to fascia to rule out a liposarcoma. y Once a lump under your skin is diagnosed as a benign (noncancerous) lipoma, your physician or health care provider will determine your best treatment option these are: o Liposuction o Steroid injections, which can shrink but not completely eliminate lipomas o Surgical procedures to remove lipomas (excision) o Other treatments or further diagnostic evaluations may be needed to determine the cause of the lump or to determine whether it is cancerous. y A lipoma may be surgically removed if symptoms develop, such as if the lipoma: o Becomes painful or tender. o Becomes infected or inflamed repeatedly. o Drains foul-smelling discharge. o Interferes with movement or function.

o Increases in size. o Becomes unsightly or bothersome. Most lipomas can be removed in the doctor's office or outpatient surgery center. The doctor injects a local anesthetic around the lipoma, makes an incision in the skin, removes the growth, and closes the incision with stitches (sutures). If the lipoma is in an area of the body that cannot be easily reached through a simple incision in the skin, the lipoma may need to be removed in the operating room under general anesthesia.

References: http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/lipoma http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/lipoma-topicoverview http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/191233-overview#showall