Size, Site and Clinical Incidence of Lipoma:Factors in the Differential Diagnosis of Lipoma and Sarcoma

Abstract

All 428 patients who had a non-visceral lipoma histopathologically diagnosed during 1 year in a defined population (0.74 million inhabitants) were analysed retrospectively as regards the age, duration of symptoms, size, site (location and depth) and multiplicity of the lipomas. Solitary subcutaneous lipomas were uncommon in the hand, thigh, lower leg and foot, and four-fifths of them (264/338) were smaller than 5 cm. Multiple subcutaneous lipomas were found in 61 patients, most of them young males. Subfascial lipomas, with a mean size (6 cm) double that of solitary subcutaneous lipomas, were found in 13 patients. A subgroup of 192 lipomas (153 patients) was reexamined histologically and the tumours were classified as either simple lipoma or angiolipoma. Angiolipomas were significantly more common in patients with multiple lipomas. To assess the reliability of a clinical diagnosis of lipoma as well as the proportion of clinically diagnosed lipomas not verified by histology, the records of patients seen in one department of surgery and in one health care centre were examined. Based on these data, the annual clinical incidence of lipoma (number of patients consulting a doctor for a lipoma, even if not histologically verified) was estimated to be 1/1000. When the data for solitary lipomas were compared to those for soft-tissue sarcoma, it was found that patient age and duration of symptoms were of minor value in the clinical differential diagnosis. However, if a tumour were (a) larger than 5 cm, irrespective of depth and location, (b) located in the thigh, irrespective of depth and size, or (c) deep, irrespective of location and size, it was more likely to be a sarcoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A case of subfascial lipoma in the lateral space of neck: US and CT findings

“…It is also reported that the intramuscular location of a lipoma is a risk factor for malignancy [1]. In our patient the lesion non infiltrated the muscle planes, but was strictly adhesed to the muscular fascia [3].…”

“…Lipomas are the most common benign mesenchymal tumors with a prevalence rate of 2.1 per 1000 people [1]. Lipomas of the neck are rare tumors that may present as slowly growing non-tender masses in the lateral neck.…”

Pattern Analysis Of Purely Dermal Cutaneous Mesenchymal Tumours Presenting As Superficial Palpable Growth

“…[12,13] The variation in site distribution was also observed. Unlike this study, Kransdorf M J et al [7] , Anders Rhydholm and Neil OB [10] and Adair et al [13] reported lipomas mainly on trunk and Jensen O M et al reported on extremity [4] . This may be due to variation in the distribution of adipose tissue in various population.…”

“…There was no syndromic association. [5,6] Various studies [7,8,9,10,11] have reported varying incidences of lipoma in their study population 78.7%, 16% , 26.4% , 40% and 37.9% respectively.…”

Giant submental lipoma: Case report and review of the literature

“…Failure to distinguish a benign lipoma from a liposarcoma (the most common soft tissue malignancy in adults) may represent a potential medical and legal pitfall (5). Distinguishing a lipoma from a welldifferentiated liposarcoma, however, can represent a unique challenge, but it is highly important due to differences in treatment, prognosis and follow-up (5,6).…”