A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty tumor situated between your skin and the underlying muscle layer. Often a lipoma is easy to identify because it moves readily with slight finger pressure. It's doughy to touch and usually not tender. You could have several that persist for years. Lipomas can occur at any age, but they're most often detected in middle age.
A lipoma isn't cancer and is usually harmless. Treatment generally isn't necessary, but if the lipoma is in a bothersome location, is painful or is growing, you should seek to have it removed.
Lipoma symptoms include:
Because it grows slowly, you might have a lipoma for years before you notice it.
The exact cause of lipomas isn't clear. Sometimes lipomas are detected after an injury. But it's uncertain whether they're caused by the trauma or whether their detection was just incidental. Lipomas also tend to run in families, so genetic factors likely play a role in their development.
A lipoma is rarely a serious medical condition. But if you notice a lump or swelling anywhere on your body, have it checked by your doctor.
A doctor can make a diagnosis by physical examination of the lump. If there's any doubt, your doctor may do other tests, such as removal of a tissue sample (biopsy) for examination in a laboratory.
There's a very small chance that a lump resembling a lipoma may actually be a form of cancer called liposarcoma. Liposarcomas — cancerous tumors in fatty tissues — grow rapidly, don't move under the skin and are usually painful. A needle biopsy or a CT scan is typically done if your doctor suspects liposarcoma.
No treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma is in a bothersome location, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed. Lipoma treatments include:
