Should I Get a Second Opinion?

Lipomas are common but an examination only reveals a presumptive diagnosis.  Once removed, I send my specimens to a pathologist to provide the final diagnosis. Raffy Karamanoukian, Los Angeles

Hello

The diagnosis of lipoma is usually a clinical one and can is usally easy to amke after taking a history and examining the suspect area.  They are not always the same consistency and can be soft or hard.  They can be confirmed prior to any surgery by eitther having  and ultrasound scan or a cat scan of the area.  This is usually reserved for lipomas that may be a little suspect of something else or when they are quite large or in a difficult area to ressect, like in the neck.

Regards

Stephen Salerno

Lipomas are quite common, and are generally easily diagnosed on exam alone by an experienced dermatologist.  With that said, you should always get a 2nd opinion if you are uncomfortable with the answer or evaluation you have been given.  In unusual circumstances an ultrasound, CT or MRI may be obtained if a diagnosis of lipoma is not certain.

The symptoms you are describing-- popping, snapping, pain with deep breathing-- are not seen with lipomas, and suggest a separate or associated musculo-skeletal issue.  Those concerns would be best evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon.