Do Lipomas Contain Blood Vessels? (photo)

Question

My husband has a lump on his upper right back. He had an MRI and the report noted that it could be a lipoma but that it has blood vessels in it so a malignant tumor can't be excluded. He is going to have it removed and have a biopsy. Can benign lipomas contain blood vessels?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lipomas can incorporate around blood vessels, and this may lead to the confusion. The vascularity of the lipoma or suspicious lump is not as reliable as a true biopsy and pathologic examination.

Norman Bakshandeh Day, MD, FACS · Answer

All structures within the body contain blood vessels. Even benign lipomas have a central feeding vessel

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

Yes lipomas can have blood vessels, they are called angiolipomas, they are benign.

	However the lipoma should be removed and biobsied for final diagnosis

Do Lipomas Contain Blood Vessels? (photo)

Answers (3)