I have an egg-sized lump in the middle of my chest that my doctor says is a lipoma.

Question

I have an egg-sized lump in the middle of my chest that my doctor says is a lipoma. He says he has seen these before in other locations and did not believe treatment was necessary. It wasn't painful at all for a couple weeks. But it is becoming more tender and other parts of my chest (particularly my left side between the chest cavity and the breast) are sore. Am wondering is this a normal diagnosis or should there be an x-ray or something?

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

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  In most cases a lipoma can be diagnosed through an in-person examination and does not require additional testing.  Lipomas are generally benign but can cause some discomfort as they grow to larger and larger sizes.  See an ASPS board certified plastic surgeon in consultation, they can offer you the best treatment based on your goals.

Shareef Jandali, MD · Answer

Hi SR000,
It's good that you are in touch with your body and have identified a change in your chest wall.  Typically a lipoma can cause discomfort if it begins to apply pressure to the surrounding tissues. Lipomas, or fatty tissue growths, can enlarge, which is why individuals often elect to have them removed. It is important to have this lump evaluated by a medical professional, such as a board certified plastic surgeon, in order to rule out other things that could be growing on the chest wall. The history of the lesion, feel, adherence to surrounding tissues/mobility and size, can help determine the likely etiology. X-Rays are not the best modality for evaluating soft tissue. In general, either an ultrasound or MRI would be used, if a diagnosis could not be made by clinical evaluation.
Best of luck!

I have an egg-sized lump in the middle of my chest that my doctor says is a lipoma.

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I have an egg-sized lump in the middle of my chest that my doctor says is a lipoma.

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lipoma Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.