What is a lipoma: causes, symptoms, treatment, removal

MRI of the brain Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to study in detail any soft tissue of the body. The method is often used to diagnose brain pathologies. The pictures show the features of blood circulation and tissue structure. Most often, an MRI scan of the head is prescribed for suspected tumors. The method is informative for both malignant and benign formations. A lipoma is clearly visible on an MRI of the brain, as are the nearby tissues it pushes apart. Based on the scan results, doctors can determine the location of the formation, its size, and the degree of influence on surrounding structures.

Types of lipomas

There are several main classifications of lipomas that are actively used in medical practice. Depending on the type of tissue that is involved in the pathological process, the following types of neoplasms are distinguished:

• perineural - localized around nerve trunks;
• intermuscular – located between the muscles of the body;
• lumbosacral - grow near the vertebrae or in the spinal canal;
• soft tissues - located on the surface of the skin, less often subcutaneous;
• joints - are located in the synovial membrane or vagina of the joints.

The formation can appear in almost any part of the body and internal organs. Depending on the location of the compaction , the following types of lipomas are most often diagnosed:

• mammary gland - forms in the glandular tissue and deforms the shape of the breast as it grows;
• breasts - a soft and mobile formation that appears in the subcutaneous fatty tissues;
• head - a frequently occurring pathology, which is mainly formed as a result of insufficient hygiene;
• back - one of the most common neoplasms, characterized by extremely slow development;
• neck is a hereditary disease that, during development, can impair the airways, cause weakness and angina.

There are also other, less common places where pathology forms, which include the brain, limbs, skin, peritoneum, eyes, lips and face.

Also, these compactions are divided into two large groups: single and multiple. The first represent a single formation in any part of the body. The latter, accordingly, are characterized by multiple manifestations in different areas of the body and are much less common.

Hemangioma

Hemangioma

- a benign tumor that most often appears on the head and neck in girls. As a rule, vascular formation is detected in newborns.

The reasons for the formation are not clear. Presumably, this is a viral infection carried by a pregnant woman.

Symptoms of pathology

• Superficial formations are red or purple in color and have clear edges. When pressed, the formation turns pale.
• Cavernous hemangiomas are located under the skin in the form of blood-filled nodules.
• Combined hemangiomas are a combination of superficial and subcutaneous.
• Mixed formations consist of different tissues.
• Hemangiomas of the perineum and genital organs are prone to ulceration.

How is the diagnosis done?

• The problem is diagnosed by a surgeon using an external examination and laboratory data.
• Using ultrasound, the depth and location are determined, the speed of blood flow and the volume of the tumor are measured.
• For large tumors, angiography is used.

Hemangioma in adults is a rare phenomenon. Most often, localization occurs on the neck and face, less often - on the arm, on the finger, on the hand, in the anus, on the external genitalia. It does not degenerate into a malignant tumor.

Treatment

The disease is often treated by surgeons. Hemangioma should be treated immediately after detection:

• For deep-lying formations, surgical excision is used;
• For large areas, radiation therapy is used, acting in small fractions;
• Cauterization (diathermoelectrocoagulation) is used for point formations.
• For small complex formations, sclerosing treatment is used - alcohol injections.
• Treatment of combined hemangiomas requires the sequential use of cryogenic and injection therapy.
• Hormonal treatment is indicated for children.
• All simple small hemangiomas must be cauterized with liquid nitrogen.
• Over a large area, the use of hormonal and radiation exposure is indicated.
• For cavernous and combined lesions, surgical, cryogenic and sclerosing methods are effective.
• For formations in the parotid region, complex treatment using angiography and embolization is used.

The disease is often treated by surgeons.

If left untreated in young children, the formation may resolve over time. If the formation increases or complications arise, then it is not recommended to delay. Vascular tumors on the face should be removed early, as the risk of complications is too great.

Causes of lipomas

Experts identify a set of prerequisites that can provoke the formation of lipomas. Among the most common:

• genetic factors, hereditary predisposition;
• disruption of metabolic processes in the body and fatty tissues;
• insufficient level of personal hygiene;
• malfunctions of the thyroid and pancreas;
• chronic pathologies that significantly affect the body’s immune forces (diabetes, hepatitis, HIV, etc.);
• dependence on alcohol, tobacco, drugs;
• poor nutrition;
• obesity, excess fatty tissue;
• injuries, damage;
• sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity.

Despite the fact that lipoma is a benign formation, there is always a risk of developing its malignant form. This probability is especially high for people who are included in the relevant risk groups: they have precancerous diseases (polyps, dysplasia), have already suffered from oncological pathologies, have a hereditary predisposition to the formation of tumors, and are under the constant influence of carcinogens, radiation and other harmful environmental factors.

Osteochondroma

Osteochondroma

- a benign formation over the bone in the form of a smooth protrusion of cartilage tissue up to 12 cm in size with bone marrow contents. Osteochondromas can be multiple or single.

The reasons for the appearance of such formations are not fully understood. The risk of developing osteochondromas is believed to increase:

• Intrauterine anomalies of skeletal formation;
• Hereditary factors;
• Irradiation.

Osteochondroma of the bone occurs:

• In the area of ​​the joints, eventually spreading to the middle of the bone;
• Localization occurs on the ribs, femur, vertebrae, tibia, foot and scapula;
• Less commonly, the hands, heel bone and humerus are affected.

The bones of the skull are not affected. There is no pain or mobility. The tumor has clear boundaries. If the tumor is small, it does not bother you; pain may occur when the blood vessels are compressed.

How is the diagnosis done?

• After an external examination, the patient is sent for an x-ray, which will show the formation and its connection to the bone.
• MRI or CT is used if the situation is unclear.
• Morphological analysis may be performed.

Treatment

The only method used is surgery - removal of the formation with its base and stem. The removal process is necessary if:

• Education is increasing;
• Has large sizes;
• Accompanied by pain;
• Causes skeletal deformation.

In other cases, the patient is observed and monitored using x-rays.

Forecast

The disease has a favorable prognosis - its growth stops with the end of the formation of the skeleton. Degeneration into a malignant state ranges from 1 to 10% (more often with multiple formations).

Recovery after surgery is quick. Patients are prescribed physical therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Symptoms of lipomas

The clinical picture of the pathology is quite sparse and is characterized by:

• the presence of a palpable formation, which is distinguished by its soft consistency, mobility, and elasticity;
• the appearance of pain due to compression of nerve trunks or growth in internal organs;
• stability of the compact size or its increase with weight loss;
• swelling of the limbs and disruption of their function (if the formation compresses nerves and blood vessels).

If a malignant process develops, general malaise and headaches appear, blood pressure rises and other characteristic symptoms of intoxication of the body appear.

In this case, depending on the exact location of the compaction, other, more pronounced symptoms and signs may occur:

• neoplasms in the esophagus cause nausea and cough;
• seals on the trachea and bronchi cause a painful dry cough that does not subside after taking antitussive drugs;
• a fatty tumor on cartilage and tendons causes pain in the joints and impedes movement;
• formation in the mammary gland provokes pain in this area;
• compaction in the kidney area causes increased blood pressure, colic and lower back pain;
• a formation in the head causes neurological symptoms – headaches, dizziness;
• lipoma of the neck is accompanied by hoarseness, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing;
• a neoplasm in the heart area causes the development of cardiac pathologies: arrhythmia, heart failure, etc.

Classification of types of pathology

It is customary to classify a lipoma according to its location in the brain. This factor directly determines which symptoms manifest themselves most clearly.

Interhemispheric lipoma

This type of neoplasm can be characterized by almost any signs. For example:

• Twitching of the upper and lower extremities;
• The appearance of hallucinations;
• Severe headaches;
• Nausea and vomiting.

Lipoma of the interhemispheric fissure

If the tumor is located here, then the patient is likely to experience the following unpleasant phenomena:

• Problems concentrating;
• Deterioration of vision. This is reflected in the fact that the patient is increasingly lost in space;
• Headache.

The last factor in case of lipoma of the interhemispheric fissure of the brain becomes especially pronounced with any attempt at mental stress. The pain becomes especially severe.

Lipoma of the corpus callosum

A feature of lipoma of the corpus callosum is involuntary movements of the limbs. This phenomenon is unusually called “alien hand syndrome.”

Lipoma of the falx cerebri

This type can also be found under the name “falx lipoma”. It is usually accompanied by:

• Sensation of a foreign object in the throat;
• Headaches, mainly in the frontal lobe of the head. Their character is most often oppressive;
• Twitching and nervous tics characteristic of the left arm and leg.

Diagnosis of lipomas

Since the development of a neoplasm in the body practically does not cause symptoms, the patient may not be aware of its presence for a long time.
Therefore, in most cases it is diagnosed accidentally during a preventive examination or treatment of other pathologies. If the localization of the formation allows the doctor to palpate, the specialist can determine the lipoma even during a standard physical examination. However, the placement of a node does not always allow it to be detected by superficial palpation. At the same time, quite a few dangerous diseases have symptoms similar to lipoma. Therefore, diagnostics are carried out not only to identify a neoplasm, but also to exclude other diseases and clarify the benign quality of the process.

A comprehensive examination includes a number of laboratory and instrumental examinations, the need for which is determined individually by the attending physician in each medical case:

• Blood tests. The most accessible method of primary assessment of the body’s condition. The results of the study allow us to identify the presence of pathological changes, inflammation, viruses or bacteria.
• X-ray examination. Depending on the location of the compaction, an X-ray of the chest, abdominal cavity, and extremities is prescribed. Allows you to diagnose a formation, identify its exact location, and also analyze the condition of bone tissue and structures.
• Ultrasonography. Scanning soft tissues and organs allows you to determine the size of the node, identify the clarity of its contours, and analyze the contents. Not the most informative examination method for suspected lipoma, since even in the presence of a capsule, the compaction is often difficult to visualize using ultrasound waves.
• CT scan. Allows you to establish an accurate diagnosis and distinguish lipoma from malignant neoplasms if there is suspicion.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. It is prescribed, if necessary, to evaluate the signs of compaction and distinguish it from malignant liposarcoma. Using this method, the diagnosis is established with maximum accuracy.
• Biopsy. Tissue collection from the compaction and their further cytological and histological analysis. Allows you to exclude the possible oncological nature of the pathology.

The examination also reveals the reasons that caused the formation of a compaction in the body. If other chronic diseases are a prerequisite for the development of pathology, additional diagnostics are also carried out for an accurate diagnosis and further effective treatment.

How to remove wen using traditional methods

If it is not possible to visit a doctor’s office, you can try to remove the lipoma yourself. But this applies only to those formations that have appeared recently. If the lipoma is old, it needs to be treated only surgically.

Baked onion

Onions are considered one of the most effective means for removing wen. Do the procedure at least 2 times a day.

1. Take one medium onion and bake in the oven.
2. Grind the cooled onion using a meat grinder.
3. Grate baby soap, add to onion and mix thoroughly.
4. Apply the resulting mass as a compress to the wen.

Sour cream with honey

Before the procedure, you need to take a hot bath to steam the wen. Then the components of the prepared remedy for wen will better penetrate the adipose tissue of the tumor. Carry out the procedure every other day.

1. Mix equal amounts of sour cream, honey and sea salt.
2. Apply the resulting mixture to the problem area.
3. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Lipoma treatment

The only medical treatment for lipoma is surgical removal. Clinic specialists prescribe surgery if the tumor:

• grows rapidly, involving surrounding tissues and organs in the pathological process;
• affects appearance, causes aesthetic defects;
• causes pain;
• disrupts the functioning of internal organs.

Only surgical intervention can avoid future complications and prevent the transformation of pathology into malignancy.

Depending on the characteristics of the tumor and taking into account the individual characteristics of the body, SM-Clinic doctors choose one of the most effective methods for removing the lump:

• endoscopic method - the advantage is a small incision, but relapses are possible;
• excision of the lipoma – the likelihood of relapse is almost completely absent;
• liposuction is a gentle method with a good cosmetic effect and very frequent recurrence.

SM-Clinic specialists initially conduct a comprehensive examination, after which they establish an accurate diagnosis and provide consultation regarding surgical excision of the tumor. Before removing a lipoma, specialists must provide detailed information about the possible risks of the operation, as well as the consequences of non-intervention. Interventions are performed exclusively by experienced surgeons with many years of experience.

Doctors warn that, despite the apparent harmlessness of the pathology and its benign course, it is not worth delaying its treatment. It is important to remember that along with the increase in neoplasm, the risk of developing malignant processes and the occurrence of concomitant pathologies of internal organs significantly increases.

Sources:

1. Congenital lipomas of the brain and spinal cord: clinical and MRI diagnostics. Bein B.N., Syrchin E.F., Yakushev K.B. Medical almanac, 2013
2. Accidental detection of cardiac lipoma. Alekseeva I.V., Gordova V.S. Bulletin of the Baltic Federal University. I. Kant. Series: Natural and medical sciences, 2021.
3. A rare congenital anomaly: a cerebral lipoma connecting to a subcutaneous lipoma through a defect in the frontal bone. Miloserdov M.A., Korneva Yu.S., Gelt T.D., Rudenko Y.A. Difficult patient, 2021.

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Don't self-medicate! At the first signs of illness, you should consult a doctor.

How a doctor can help you remove a wen

It is highly advisable that lipoma removal be performed by an experienced specialist. After a thorough examination, a dermatologist may prescribe the following procedures to remove wen:

• Mechanical cleaning. This method is considered the simplest. The procedure is carried out by piercing the wen with a needle, after which all its contents are removed. Sometimes the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
• Removal of lipoma with laser . Laser therapy is considered the most progressive method for removing fatty tissue. The procedure is very quick and does not leave scars. In addition, the possibility of the wen reappearing in the same place is excluded.

Mesenchymoma

Mesenchymoma

– a malignant formation related to sarcoma. Angiosarcoma and liposarcoma can be found in its composition.

The exact causes of the occurrence have not been clarified. Perhaps this is the effect of carcinogens on the fetus. Risk factors are:

• Vibration, hypothermia and ionizing radiation;
• Chemical exposure – toxic substances, drugs;
• Bacterial and viral infections.

The location is predominantly the chest and abdominal cavity, mediastinum and retroperitoneal space. The formation is manifested by pain, cough, heartburn, shortness of breath and a feeling of fullness.

Diagnosis is carried out using radiography, ultrasound, MRI, biopsy and endoscopic examination. Treatment is carried out surgically. Auxiliary methods are radiation therapy and chemotherapy.