lipoomid

Lipoomid, or lipomas, are common benign tumors composed of mature adipose tissue. They typically arise in subcutaneous tissue and present as soft, rounded, and mobile lumps that grow slowly over time. Most lipomas are painless and solitary, but multiple lipomas can occur, especially in hereditary conditions such as familial multiple lipomatosis.

Pathology and variants: Lipomas consist of well-differentiated fat cells arranged in lobules, often surrounded by a connective tissue capsule. Variants include angiolipoma (with a prominent vascular component), spindle cell lipoma, and pleomorphic lipoma. Deep or infiltrating lipomas can extend into muscle or other structures and have a higher chance of recurrence after removal.

Etiology: The exact cause is not fully understood. Most lipomas are sporadic, but in some families lipomatosis follows an autosomal dominant pattern. Genetic factors may contribute to the development of multiple lesions.

Clinical features: Lipomas are usually asymptomatic but can be cosmetically concerning or occasionally cause discomfort if they compress nearby nerves or joints. Rapid growth, irregular borders, fixation to deeper tissues, or unusually hard consistency warrants evaluation to exclude malignant tumors such as liposarcoma.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is commonly clinical. Imaging methods like ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help characterize the lesion and distinguish lipomas from other soft tissue tumors. A definitive diagnosis is obtained through histology after biopsy or surgical excision if there is doubt.

Treatment and prognosis: Asymptomatic lipomas require no treatment. Symptomatic or cosmetically bothersome lipomas are commonly removed by surgical excision or liposuction. Recurrence is uncommon for solitary lipomas but more likely for infiltrating or multiple lipomatoses. The prognosis after removal is excellent.