Diagnosis
A lipoma is a round or oval-shaped lump of tissue that grows just beneath the skin. It’s made of fat, moves easily when you touch it and doesn’t usually cause pain. Lipomas can appear anywhere on the body, but they’re most common on the back, trunk (torso), arms, shoulders and neck.
Lipomas are benign soft tissue tumors. They grow slowly and are not cancerous. Most lipomas don’t need treatment. If a lipoma is bothering you, your healthcare provider can remove it with an outpatient procedure.
How common are lipomas?
Lipomas are very common. About 1 of every 1,000 people has a lipoma. Lipomas appear most often between ages 40 and 60, but they can develop at any age. They can even be present at birth. Lipomas affect people of all genders, but they are slightly more common in women.
What are the symptoms of a lipoma?
Lipomas aren’t usually painful, but they can be uncomfortable if they press against a nerve or develop near a joint. Many people who have a lipoma don’t notice any symptoms. Lipomas are usually:
- Encapsulated: They don’t spread to the tissues surrounding them.
- Painless: However, some lipomas cause pain and discomfort depending on their location, size and if blood vessels are present.
- Round or oval-shaped: The fatty lumps of rubbery tissue are usually symmetrical.
- Moveable: They sit just beneath the skin’s surface and move when you touch them.
- Smaller than 2 inches in diameter: In a few cases, lipomas can be larger than 6 inches wide.
Where do lipomas grow?
Lipomas can develop anywhere on the body. Rarely, lipomas grow on the muscles, internal organs or brain. The majority of people with a lipoma only have one, although more than one lipoma can grow. Most lipomas develop just under the skin on the:
- Arms or legs.
- Back.
- Neck.
- Shoulders.
- Trunk (chest and torso).
- Forehead.
What causes a lipoma?
Healthcare providers aren’t sure what causes lipomas to grow. They are inherited (passed down through families). You’re more likely to develop a lipoma if someone in your family has one.
Some conditions cause multiple lipomas to form on the body. Lipoma-causing conditions include:
- Dercum’s disease: This rare disorder causes painful lipomas to grow, most often on the arms, legs and trunk. It’s also called adiposis dolorosa or Anders’ syndrome
- Gardner syndrome: A form of a disorder called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner syndrome causes lipomas and a range of health problems.
- Hereditary multiple lipomatosis: Also called familial multiple lipomatosis, this disorder is inherited (passed down through families).
- Madelung’s disease: This condition occurs most often in men who drink alcohol excessively. Also called multiple symmetric lipomatosis, Madelung’s disease causes lipomas to grow around the neck and shoulders.
