As you begin to stretch and loosen your too-tight muscles in the morning stretch, you notice a small lump between your neck and shoulder just under your skin.
Despite your attempts to remain calm, your mind starts to reel with possibilities…
Could it be a really bad knot? A benign cyst? Cancer?
Could your lump be a lipoma?
What is a Lipoma?
While the term “lipoma” may sound like a life sentence, its name holds far more nerves than its actual definition.
A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue that grows just beneath the skin, between the muscle layer. While lipomas can appear anywhere on the body, they are most commonly found on the back, torso, arms, shoulders, thighs, and neck.
While the root cause remains unknown, they are often found in individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 years old, as well as in those with a genetic predisposition.
Although lipomas may appear intimidating, they are typically harmless and benign in nature.
What Does a Lipoma Look and Feel Like?
While a lump often forces us to stop in our tracks, lipomas often appear worse than they feel, typically without any noticeable symptoms.
So, what does a lipoma look and feel like?
Lipomas are typically:
- Painless
- Round or oval-shaped
- Moveable when touched
- Encapsulated (don’t spread to surrounding tissue)
- Smaller than 2-inches in diameter
- Soft and doughy
While lipomas are typically painless, they can become painful if they begin to develop and put pressure on surrounding nerves or if they contain many blood vessels.
Can Lipomas Go Away?
With the appearance of lipomas, a common question is: Will lipomas ever go away on their own?
In short, no. Lipomas are not deemed a medical emergency or concern; therefore, treatment is often unnecessary. Most people can proceed with their daily activities without noticing the fatty lump. However, if the lipoma begins to cause pain or discomfort or is aesthetically displeasing, individuals can seek treatment for removal.
Removal options will vary based on the individual and may include both surgical and nonsurgical options, such as steroid injections.
Cancer Lump vs. Lipoma: How Can You Tell the Difference?
While lipomas are about as harmless as a fly, sarcomas are a different story.
Sarcomas are cancerous tumors that often appear on the arms, legs, torso, and, in rare cases, the abdomen. At first glance, sarcomas may resemble lipomas, but there are several key factors that distinguish the two lumps.
Factors that help you tell the difference between a sarcoma and a lipoma include:
- Texture
- Growth rate
- Pain
- Movability
Texture and Movability
Lipomas, when applied with pressure, will often move and tend to feel soft or rubbery in texture. Sarcomas, however, will remain fixed in position and firm to the touch.
Growth Rate and Pain
Lipomas are often slow to develop and usually don’t result in painful symptoms or any symptoms at all. On the other hand, sarcomas develop at a rapid pace and can often be uncomfortable and even painful.
Gaining Answers With Help from a Full-Body MRI
When determining whether a lump is a lipoma or a sarcoma, a whole-body MRI scan may provide the answers.
With the ability to screen for nearly 500 health conditions across 13 organ systems, we can determine the harmless nature of a lipoma and detect a possible cancerous tumor before it’s too late.
An MRI of a lipoma can ensure that your lump truly is a lipoma or save you from a possible silent cancer killer that could be wreaking havoc on your body, without you noticing.
Is Your Lump a Lipoma? Remove the Worry with a Full Body MRI Scan
At MRI Wellness, our goal is not only to leverage the latest advancements in healthcare technology but to provide you with peace of mind.
Is your lump truly a lipoma? There’s only one way to find the answers.
Schedule your full-body MRI in Charleston, SC, and take the first step toward peace of mind today.
