Lipomas

Most common benign soft tissue tumour - neoplastic proliferation of fat

Aetiology

  • Usually occurs in the subcutanous fat, can occur in muscle

Clinical presentation

  • Features suggestive of a benign soft tissue neoplasm include smaller size, fluctuation in size (malignant tumours don’t regress in size), cystic lesions, well‐defined lesions, fluid filled lesions and soft/fatty lesions
  • Lipomas have a characteristic consistancy, with no overlying skin changes
  • Other features of lipomas: can be large (several cms), can be discreet or less well defined, slow growing and painless/ non-tender

Management

  • Based on symptoms
  • Can be left alone
  • Surgical excision if causing symptoms