Lipoma tumors are soft tissue growths that usually do not pose a malignant threat and arise from fatty tissue. They can affect different areas and individuals, with some types affecting certain genders. Surgical removal is usually unnecessary, but some tumors can cause complications depending on their location or complexity.
A soft tissue tumor that probably does not pose a malignant threat is known as a lipoma tumor. Although tumors spawn from the same general source, fat, they can attack different places and different individuals. Types such as pleomorphic lipoma and spindle cell lipoma tend to affect a certain gender. Others gain ground on different areas of the body, including neural fibrolipomas and chondroid lipomas. Superficial subcutaneous lipomas, corpus callosum lipomas, and angiolipomas include other types of lipomas.
These growths are recognizable by their softness and small size. They arise from adipose tissue, or fatty tissue, and usually affect middle-aged individuals. For the most part, the causes of these growths are unknown, although certain genes are suspected to contribute to their development. Because most of these tumors are nonthreatening, surgical removal is usually unnecessary.
The specific symptoms and presentations of lipoma tumors depend on the classification under which the tumors are found. Perhaps the most common lipoma is the superficial subcutaneous lipoma. Researchers call this superficial variety because it grows right under the skin’s surface. Any area of body fat can generate these tumors, but the core of the body is most susceptible.
Some types, such as chondroid lipomas and intradermal spindle cell lipomas, occur on specific parts of the body. The first type usually occurs on the legs while the second can occur from the head to the chest, and sporadically on the limbs. Chondroid lipomas also typically occur further under the skin and have a firmer, yellowish texture. Both types primarily affect women.
Other variants of lipoma tumors appear to affect men. Pleomorphic lipomas, for example, occur on the upper torso in men, usually on the back or neck. This particular type is also composed of larger cells. Spindle cell lipomas have a similar area of manifestation, but typically produce no symptoms and can grow at a significantly slower rate than other lipomas.
While a sizable percentage of lipoma tumors cause no discernible side effects, some versions can cause complications due to their location or complexity. If a lipoma arises near a nerve, the growth can press against the nerve and ease numbness, tingling, or other uncomfortable sensations. These particular tumors are called neural fibrolipomas. Similarly, congenital and larger sized corpus callosum lipoma can compress organs and affect internal bodily functioning if it grows to about 20 centimeters (about 7.87 inches) in size. Furthermore, angiolipomas, which are created near the surface of the skin, can also induce painful sensations.
There are two other primary lipoma tumors: angiolipoleiomyoma and hibernoma. The first type has slight differences from similar lipomas, as it consists of a complicated network of blood vessels, muscle cells, and other tissue types related to adipose tissue. In contrast, hibernomas are composed mostly of brown fat.
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