Lipomas are
usually easy to diagnose on clinical examination. They are soft, mobile
with margins that may be difficult to define. They are not usually
larger than 8 cm(1). Lipomas may calcify, however, there
should be suspicion of a liposarcoma especially if the patient is male,
the lesion is greater than 10 cm, there is less than 75% fat, there are
non-fatty areas or there are thick septae(2).
Figure 1 (above): A simple lipoma of the abdominal wall.
References:
1. Merck. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 18th ed. Merck Manuals; 2006.
2. Kransdorf MJ, Bancroft LW, Peterson JJ, et al. Imaging of Fatty Tumors:
Distinction of Lipoma and Well-differentiated Liposarcoma1. Radiology.
2002;224(1):99-104.