Should I Be Concerned About the Change in the Size of my Lipoma?

Question

1st ultrasound showed an oval-shaped unencapsulated isoechoic mass 2.6 x1.9 x 0.5 cm within subcutaneous fat on my left thigh. 2nd ultrasound, 2 weeks later showed a lipoma measuring 4.5 x 1.5 x 2.1 cm with margins that aren't well demarcated. No increased vascularity identified in either ultrasounds. Could one of the measurements be off? I've had a bump on that thigh for 7 yrs even though 3 yrs. ago ultrasound showed no lipoma. Should I be concerned?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that occur under the skin and less commonly within the muscle. They are associated with mild discomfort and a lump underneath the skin. It is always best to talk to an expert plastic surgeon to determine whether the lipoma is possibly a cyst or a tumor or hernia. We would have to remove the lipoma to be sure that it is not something else and we usually do this by sending it to a pathologist for evaluation. If a lipoma is painful, then an exam is needed to make sure it is not compressing on a nerve or whether the diagnosis is different. Aftercare for a lipoma includes gentle compression and Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily on the wound.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Guido P. Gutter, MD · Answer

The measurements are probably not accurate from one exam to the other. 

	Regarding your question of "being concerned?" :

	You are concerned enough to post the question and I would therefore recommend to see a Plastic Surgeon with copies of your ultrasound exam(you can obtain them from the place where they were taken). Let him examine you and discuss your options between  observation vs. Surgery (and with that what surgical approach).   Good luck.

Jeffrey C. Poole, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

The most important questions you have to ask is -- what is the diagnosis?  Do you notice the lesion growing or is it symptomatic? How concerning is the lesion to you (functionally or cosmetically if OK medically)?

	A proper evaluation by a Board Certified Physician knowledgeable in these conditions, such as a Dermatologist, is your best first step.

	If the lesion is indeed a lipoma, this is a diagnosis that is almost always easily made clinically by a Dermatologist, without the need of imaging.  Lipomas do continue to grow slowly over time, and are often removed at patient request, or for diagnostic confirmation.  A rapidly changing lipoma could be due to trauma and bleeding into the lipoma (not a concern) or due to a cancerous variant of a lipoma known as a liposarcoma (very rare).

	So-- seek the expert opinion of a respected Dermatologist and discuss your concerns with them to get your best answers.  Take care.

Should I Be Concerned About the Change in the Size of my Lipoma?

Answers (3)

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