How to recognize signs of lipoma?

A lipoma is a noncancerous tumor, also called a lipoma. This type of tumor usually appears on the upper body, neck, armpits, upper arms, thighs and in internal organs. Fortunately, lipomas are not usually life-threatening and can be treated if they cause discomfort. However, you should also know how to monitor and treat lipomas if they develop.

Table of Contents

Know the symptoms

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Look for small lumps under the skin. Lipomas usually present as dome-shaped lumps of various sizes, usually from the size of a pea to about 3 cm in length. If you have a lump under your skin this size, it’s probably a lipoma. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Some lipomas can be larger than 3 cm. Also, you may not be able to feel the whole lump.
Lipomas are caused by the rapid and abnormal growth of fat cells.
On the other hand, if the tumor is larger, firmer and less movable, it is probably a cyst. In addition, the cyst has a softer feel and can become infected and exudate.

Tip: In rare cases, lipomas can grow larger than 3 cm. Fat tumors larger than 5 cm are called giant lipomas.

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Palpate the tumor to determine tenderness. Lipomas are usually quite soft, which means they can move if you press down on them with your fingers. This type of tumor attaches only slightly to the surrounding tissue, so even though they are relatively fixed, you can still make them move a little below the skin. ^{[2] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

This will help you determine if it is a lipoma, tumor or cyst. Cysts and tumors are usually more fixed and firm in shape than lipomas.
If the lipoma is deep in the tissue, as is rare, it may be difficult to feel its stiffness and determine its overall size.

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Notice the pain, if any. Although lipomas are usually painless because they don’t have nerves, you can sometimes feel pain if they appear on certain points of the body. For example, if a tumor is located near a nerve and begins to grow, it can press on the nerve and cause pain. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Talk to your doctor if you start to feel pain at the site of the lipoma.

Medical diagnosis

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Record when you found the tumor. It is important to know how long the tumor has been present and if it has changed over time. When you first notice a lump, write down its date, location, and shape.

This will help your doctor assess the severity of the tumor and determine if the tumor should be removed if it continues to grow.

Tip: Note that lipomas can stay in place for many years and cause no ill effects. Most people only have lipomas removed for cosmetic reasons.

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Monitor the tumor to see if it grows. The first time you notice a tumor, use a measuring tape to track its growth. If you notice a tumor increasing in size over a period of 1 or 2 months, see your doctor, even if your doctor has examined it before. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

It can be difficult to tell if a tumor has increased in size because this type of tumor usually grows very slowly.
Lipomas when they first appear can be about the size of a pea and begin to grow larger. However, lipomas usually do not exceed 3 cm in diameter, so larger tumors may not be lipomas.

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See your doctor to check for a tumor. If you notice any unusual or new lumps on your body, you should always see your doctor. Schedule a visit to the clinic and tell your doctor that you have a tumor that needs help. During the exam, your doctor will feel the lump and ask you about your symptoms. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}

In many cases, a doctor can diagnose a lipoma just by feeling it. However, they may also need diagnostic tests to confirm suspicions of tumor growth.
Tests your doctor may perform include: X-rays, CT scans (computerized tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and biopsy tests. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Know about risk factors

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Understand that age may play a role in lipoma formation. Lipomas usually appear between the ages of 40 and 60. If you are over 40, watch out for this type of tumor. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

However, you should also keep in mind that lipomas can appear at any age, just that the risk increases once you pass the age of 40.

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Determine if you have a medical condition that makes lipomas more likely to develop. There are a few health problems that can increase your risk of developing lipomas. These conditions may include: ^{[9] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source} :

Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome
Madelung disease (benign symmetrical lipoma)
Adiposis dporosa (painful lipoma)
Cowden’s syndrome
Gardner Syndrome ^{[10] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Check your family history for lipomas. Ask parents and grandparents if anyone has lipoma or if they know anyone in the family who has lipoma. Lipomas are hereditary, so it’s related to your family history. ^{[11] X Research Source}

For example, if your grandmother had lipomas, chances are you also have lipomas because you share her genes.
However, isolated lipomas, a non-genetic form of lipoma, are more common than hereditary lipomas. This means you can still have lipomas even if you don’t have a family history.

Warning: Knowing a family history of lipomas does not help you prevent lipomas. However, this also helps you speculate that your tumor may be lipoma.

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Pay attention to areas of skin that have been damaged repeatedly by playing sports. People who play sports where the body is frequently bumped in the same position have a higher risk of developing lipomas. For example, volleyball players who touch the ball in certain places on their body are at risk of developing lipomas there. ^{[12] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}

If you’ve been injured multiple times in the same spot, try to protect that area of skin to prevent lumps from forming.

Treatment of lipomas

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Talk to your doctor about steroid injections. This is the least invasive method to remove lipomas. A mixture of injectable steroids (triamcinpone acetonide and 1% lidocaine) is injected into the center of the tumor. This procedure is done in the clinic and you can go home immediately after the injection. ^{[13] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source}

If the tumor does not collapse within 1 month, the doctor may repeat the procedure until it disappears.

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Surgical removal if the tumor is large or painful. The most effective method to remove lipomas is surgical removal. In general, the surgical solution is only for tumors approximately 3 cm in size or painful tumors. When the tumor is just below the skin, the doctor will make a slight incision, remove the tumor, clean the wound, and stitch it up. ^{[14] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

If the lipoma is in an internal organ, a much rarer case, you will be given general anesthesia to surgically remove the tumor.
Lipomas very rarely recur after resection.

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Learn about liposuction. This technique uses a suction machine to remove fatty tissue. The doctor will make a small incision in the tumor and insert a suction tube to suck out the fatty tissue. Usually this is an outpatient procedure done in a clinic or hospital. ^{[15] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Usually, people who choose this option want to have their lipoma removed for cosmetic reasons. This method is also used in cases where the tumor is softer than usual.

Warning: Be aware that liposuction leaves a small but very subtle scar once it’s fully healed.

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Apply folk remedies as a complementary treatment. There are many herbs and supplements that are said to reduce the size of lipomas. Although there are not many scientific studies proving their effectiveness, these folk remedies are still widely used, which include: ^{[16] X Research Sources}

Reishi – Buy a solution of the herb at the pharmacy and drink it 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon each time after meals.
Neem – An Indian herb that you can add to your dishes or take a daily supplement.
Flaxseed Oil – Apply flaxseed oil directly to the area of the lipoma 3 times a day.
Green Tea – Drink 1 cup of green tea per day.
Turmeric – Take one turmeric supplement per day or apply a 1:1 mixture of turmeric and oil to the lipoma daily.
Lemon juice – squeeze lemon into your drink and drink it throughout the day.

Warning

It’s important to see a doctor when you notice any lump, even if you think it’s a relatively harmless lipoma.

Steps

Know the symptoms

Medical diagnosis

Know about risk factors

Treatment of lipomas

Warning

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