eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Benign Neoplasms
Lipomas: Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Updated: May 8, 2008
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Differential Diagnoses
Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome
Dermatofibroma
Glomus Tumor
Leiomyoma
Other Problems to Be Considered
Hibernomas
Lipoblastomas
Liposarcomas
Neurofibromas
Epidermoid cysts (occasionally)
Obesity
Sialadenitis
Goiter
Lymphatic tumorAngiolipomas
Dermatofibromas (occasionally)
Blue rubber bleb nevus, eccrine spiradenoma, neuroma, neurofibromas, glomus tumors, granular cell tumors, angiolipomas, leiomyoma; also termed BENGAL
Workup
Imaging Studies
- CT scanning is indicated in suspected liposarcoma. CT scanning is useful for distinguishing between lipomas and liposarcomas.1
Procedures
- Fine-needle aspiration is indicated when the diagnosis of liposarcoma is suspected.
Histologic Findings
Lipomas histologically resemble normal fat. When completely excised, a thin fibrous capsule surrounding the aggregate of adipocytes may be seen. Without a clinical or gross description, it often is impossible to distinguish between tumor cells and mature adipocytes.
Lipomas differ biochemically from normal mature fat. Lipomas have increased levels of lipoprotein lipase.
More on Lipomas |
| Overview: Lipomas |
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Lipomas |
| Treatment & Medication: Lipomas |
| Follow-up: Lipomas |
| Multimedia: Lipomas |
| References |
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References
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Tallini G, Dal Cin P, Rhoden KJ, Chiapetta G, Manfioletti G, Giancotti V, et al. Expression of HMGI-C and HMGI(Y) in ordinary lipoma and atypical lipomatous tumors: immunohistochemical reactivity correlates with karyotypic alterations. Am J Pathol. Jul 1997;151(1):37-43. [Medline].
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Further Reading
Keywords
lipomatosis, Madelung disease, Dercum disease, adiposis dolorosa, angiolipomas, hibernomas, benign mesenchymal tumors, solitary lipomas, diffuse congenital lipomatosis, benign symmetric lipomatosis, familial multiple lipomatosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Lipomas