Can a dermatologist remove a possible lipoma near my cervical vertebrae?

Question

I have had a small lipoma removed from my left forearm about 3 years ago. Now there is a mobile mass that feels rubbery and elliptical right next to and possibly on a cervical vertebrae. I'm guessing C-5 or 6. I found it because I thought I slept wrong and had a muscular pain and was awkwardly reaching back there to squeeze my neck. I am only guessing it when I say it feels about 2" long x .5-1" wide. When they are on or right next to the spine can my dermatologist do this one, too? Thank you.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Piesotherapy is an excellent approach for treating most kinds of lipomas and can certainly be performed by an experienced dermatologic surgeon. In this procedure, following local anesthesia, a small punch (a cookie-cutter like instrument) is used to punch out a tiny hole in the center of the lipoma through which the fatty contents may be coaxed out. In most cases, the entire lipoma can be removed in this fashion, even if it is much larger than the tiny opening created by the punch--very much the way a good-sized infant may be delivered through the vagina. The wound opening can then be stitched with only a very few, extremely fine stitches, which typically results in a tiny, often barely perceptible scar.Alternatively, a trial of mesotherapy might be considered. A series of tiny injections of minute amounts of fat dissolving agents, such as desoxycholate (with our without concomitant injectable steroids and salmeterol)--spaced at approximately eight week intervals--may be tried and if successful in shrinking the lesion no surgery need be performed. I have practices both on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and in Israel, and have had success with the latter approach in Israel where this form of lipolytic (fat dissolving) mesotherapy is approved and readily available. In the U.S. a product known as ATX-101 will soon come to market for this purpose, as well. Finally, it might be treated by fractional ablative electrosubcision, in which an insulated probe is inserted into the lipoma (following local anesthesia) and essentially coagulated from within.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

An examination can help determine the next course of action to take given that you have a lipoma near your cervical spine. Our office specializes in lipoma removal surgery in Los Angeles.

Can a dermatologist remove a possible lipoma near my cervical vertebrae?

Answers (2)

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