Lipoma Biopsy: When Is It Done?

i always just remove the lipoma and send the entire specimen for pathologic examination. and incisional or fine needle aspiration biopsy would not make much sense but could be done.  ultrasound also could support a diagnosis one way or the other but an examination of the specimen under a microscope is the gold standard.

An excisional biopsy is usually performed for nodules that are suggestive of a lipoma.  This entails complete surgical excision and examination by a pathologist. 

There are many reasons to receive a biopsy for a lipoma. If the mass is in a sensitive place that may affect other structures, your physician may recommend a biopsy to determine if this is a benign mass or not. If the mass is benign but is not pleasing or interfering with the year activities or function, a complete excision may be recommended to address the mass once and for all.  

I would assume that the lipoma is in the chest cavity, otherwise it would have been biopsied (and excised) already. I would also assume that the ultrasounds are very supportive of a diagnosis of a lipoma. A lipoma is one of the most common benigh mesenchymal neoplasms of the mediastinum, the central compartment of the chest. It is often quite large and usually sits right on top of the diaghragm. The fact that it is growing does not necessarily mean it is malignant. We physicians... more