eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Benign Neoplasms

Lipomas: Follow-up

Author: Robert A Moraru, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 7, 2009

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to distinguish benign lipoma from liposarcoma, which is the most common soft-tissue malignancy in adults. Liposarcomas rarely arise in a preexisting lipoma and usually are found in middle-aged or older adults. Liposarcomas can be rapidly growing nonmobile masses that can cause pain resulting from the compression of nerves. The skin above them can become ulcerated. If a liposarcoma is suspected, perform a fine-needle aspiration to confirm the diagnosis.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Lipomas

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Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Lipomas
Treatment & Medication: Lipomas
Follow-up: Lipomas
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References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

lipoma, lipomas, lipomatosis, Madelung disease, Dercum disease, adiposis dolorosa, angiolipomas, hibernomas, benign mesenchymal tumors, solitary lipomas, diffuse congenital lipomatosis, benign symmetric lipomatosis, familial multiple lipomatosis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert A Moraru, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
Robert A Moraru, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Janet Fairley, MD, Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa
Janet Fairley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Federation for Medical Research, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Rosalie Elenitsas, MD, Herman Beerman Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Director, Penn Cutaneous Pathology Services, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Rosalie Elenitsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine M Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania
Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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