7/7 (Sunday) [Concern] Do I really need to undergo lipoma removal surgery?

There is a bump-like swelling on the outside of my left arm.

It's called a lipoma, and it's been around for a while.

There are no inconveniences or pain in my daily life, so I wasn't paying attention to it, but it seems to have grown larger than before, and if it continues to grow, it might not look good. I'm 고민중이네요 about whether I should definitely have surgery or not.🤔🤔

 

If I have to undergo surgery, I need to choose the hospital carefully, but I don't even know which hospital to go to. 😅

The cause of lipomas is still unknown. Sigh~~ I'm afraid of surgery and don't want to do it, but I think I should do it before it gets bigger...

 

👉What is a lipoma?

A benign tumor composed of mature fat cells, surrounded by a thin capsule. It can occur anywhere in the body, but most commonly develops in subcutaneous tissue where normal fat tissue exists, such as the trunk, thighs, and arms. It is the most common benign tumor of soft tissues, primarily occurring in adults aged 40 to 60, but it can also occur in children.

Rare forms of lipomas include familial lipomatosis, which occurs in multiple locations; benign symmetrical lipomas (Madelung's disease) that mainly develop in the neck of middle-aged men; and painful lipomas that predominantly occur in obese women after menopause.

 

👉Tumor?

They are mostly 1 to 3 cm in size and can be felt as soft rubbery lumps that move easily just beneath the skin. Generally, there is no pain, and they may remain unchanged in size for a long time or gradually grow over several years to become a giant lipoma exceeding 10 cm. When they enlarge, they may adhere to surrounding tissues, causing pain, and depending on their size and location, they can affect body movement or function.

• Location of onset: entire body, subcutaneous fat layer, muscles, tendons, nerve roots, internal organs or mesentery, etc.

 

What is the cause of lipomas?

There is still no known information. In some cases, there is a hereditary tendency similar to familial lipomatosis. Subcutaneous lipomas occurring in children may also be a symptom of a specific genetic disorder (Bannayan-Zonana syndrome). Meanwhile, cases of lipomas developing after trauma have been reported, but the relationship between trauma and lipoma formation is not clear.

 

👉What is the diagnosis?

Lipomas are often diagnosed simply by palpation. However, ultrasound examinations are performed to differentiate from other tumors, assess the exact size and relationship with surrounding tissues, and to distinguish from liposarcoma, CT, MRI, and biopsy are also conducted.

 

👉What is the treatment for lipomas?

Surgical excision. Surgery is not always necessary, but it is performed when the lesion is cosmetically unappealing, causes symptoms such as pain, or requires differentiation from other malignant tumors. The procedure involves local anesthesia, followed by an incision in the skin to remove the lesion, making it a relatively simple operation. In most cases, complete cure is achieved with simple excision, but lipomas can recur in 1-2% of cases. If the lipoma is small and located in the subcutaneous tissue, treatment with liposuction may be an option, but the disadvantage is the high cost and the potential for easy recurrence. Large lipomas require surgery under general anesthesia.

 

👉What is the course/prognosis and complications?

Lipomas are not life-threatening diseases and most subcutaneous lipomas, which account for the majority of lipomas, are benign conditions that do not require concern. However, they can gradually grow over time, may be cosmetically unappealing, and can adhere to surrounding tissues, causing pain or affecting movement. Rarely, lipomas occurring in internal organs can cause problems; for example, lipomas in the gastrointestinal tract or mesentery can lead to bleeding, ulcers, or intestinal obstruction.

It is very rare for lipomas to become malignant, and malignant lipomas (liposarcomas) usually occur independently of benign lipomas.