Diagnosis
To diagnose a lipoma, your healthcare professional may:
- Examine it.
- Remove a tissue sample (biopsy) for lab examination.
- Order an X-ray, or an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, if the lipoma is large, has unusual features or appears to be deeper than the fatty tissue.
There's a very small chance that a lump looking like a lipoma may be a cancer called liposarcoma. Liposarcomas are cancerous tumors in fatty tissues. They grow rapidly, don't move under the skin and often are painful. A biopsy, or an MRI or CT scan, is typically done if your healthcare professional suspects liposarcoma.
Treatment
A lipoma typically doesn't need to be treated. But if the lipoma bothers you, or it's painful or growing, your healthcare professional might recommend removing it.
Lipoma treatments include:
- Surgical removal. Most lipomas are removed surgically by cutting them out. Lipomas typically don't return once they're removed. Possible side effects are scarring and bruising. A technique known as minimal excision extraction may result in less scarring.
- Liposuction. This treatment uses a needle and a large syringe to remove the fatty lump.
Preparing for your appointment
You're likely to start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. You may need to see a healthcare professional who specializes in skin disorders, known as a dermatologist.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
What you can do
- List your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to why you scheduled the appointment.
- Make a list of medicines, vitamins and supplements you take.
- List questions to ask your healthcare professional.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your healthcare professional. For a lipoma, some basic questions to ask include:
- What caused this growth?
- Is it cancer?
- Do I need tests?
- Will this lump always be there?
- Can I have it removed?
- What's involved in removing it? Are there risks?
- Is it likely to return, or am I likely to get another?
- Do you have any brochures or other resources I can have? What websites do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions too, including:
- When did you notice the lump?
- Has it grown?
- Have you had similar growths in the past?
- Is the lump painful?
- Have others in your family had similar lumps?