Lipoma
Amitabh Srivastava, MD
Key Facts
Terminology
Benign tumor of mature white adipocytes
Clinical Issues
Surgical excision is curative
Higher recurrence rate in intramuscular lipoma
Macroscopic Features
Most common between 40-60 years of age
Approximately 5% may be multiple
Well circumscribed with delicate capsule
Yellow, greasy cut surface
Microscopic Pathology
Lobules of mature adipocytes with minimal size variation
No nuclear atypia
Ancillary Tests
Lipomas are cytogenetically heterogeneous
 Lipomas are surrounded by a thin, delicate, and transparent capsule  and often show a lobulated appearance. |
 The cut surface of lipomas is homogeneous, yellow, and greasy. Note the delicate fibrous septa  , which separate the lesion into lobules. |
TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Benign tumor of mature white adipocytes
ETIOLOGY/PATHOGENESIS
Unknown
Although etiology is unknown, lipomas tend to occur more commonly in obese individuals
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Painless mass
Large lesions may be painful
Treatment
Surgical excision is curative
Prognosis
Recurrences in < 5% cases
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