Lipoma physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2] Shanshan Cen, M.D. [3] Sahar Memar Montazerin, M.D.[4]

Overview

Physical examination of patients with a lipoma is usually remarkable for a mobile, painless mass with a soft consistency. This mass often occur in the neck, shoulders, back, arms and thighs. Sometimes, lipoma may cause limitation in the range of motions of the extremities depending on their size and locatins. Neuromuscular examination of patients with lipoma may be remarkable for positive Tinel’s sign and Phalen’s sign. Lasègue’s sign may be positive in case of lumbosacral lipoma.

Physical examination

Physical examination of patients with a lipoma is usually remarkable for a mobile, painless mass with a soft consistency.^[1]
Lipomas often occur in the neck, shoulders, back, arms and thighs.

Appearance of the Patient

Patients with lipoma usually appear normal.

Vital Signs

Vital signs of a patients with lipoma are stable.

Skin

Skin examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.
Subcutaneous lipoma is palpated as a mobile, soft lump which is usually painless.

HEENT

HEENT examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Neck

Neck examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Lungs

Pulmonary examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Heart

Cardiovascular examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Abdomen

Abdominal examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Back

Back examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.

Neuromuscular

Neuromuscular examination of patients with a lipoma is usually normal.^[2]^[3]^[4]
Sometimes, lipoma may cause limitation in the range of motions of the extremities depending on their size and location.
Lipomas of tendon sheaths and joints may present with positive Tinel’s sign and Phalen’s sign.
Lumbosacral lipoma may cause positive Lasègue’s sign.

Extremities

Extremities are common locations for lipoma development and in the presence of lipoma, a mobile lump with a soft consistency will be palpated.

Extremity

Lipoma. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]
Lipoma. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]
Lipoma. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]

Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis

Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]
Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]
Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis. Adapted from Dermatology Atlas.^[5]

References

↑ Allen, Brian; Rader, Christine; Babigian, Alan (2007). “Giant lipomas of the upper extremity”. Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 15 (3): 141–144. doi:10.1177/229255030701500308. ISSN 1195-2199.
↑ Gurich RW, Pappas ND (December 2015). “Lipoma of the Tendon Sheath in the Fourth Extensor Compartment of the Hand”. Am J. Orthop. 44 (12): 561–2. PMID 26665243.
↑ Kang, Hyun-Seung; Wang, Kyu-Chang; Kim, Kwang Myung; Kim, Seung Ki; Cho, Byung Kyu (2006). “Prognostic factors affecting urologic outcome after untethering surgery for lumbosacral lipoma”. Child’s Nervous System. 22 (9): 1111–1121. doi:10.1007/s00381-006-0088-5. ISSN 0256-7040.
↑ Jones, Victoria; Wykes, Victoria; Cohen, Nicki; Thompson, Dominic; Jacques, Tom S (2018). “The pathology of lumbosacral lipomas: macroscopic and microscopic disparity have implications for embryogenesis and mode of clinical deterioration”. Histopathology. 72 (7): 1136–1144. doi:10.1111/his.13469. ISSN 0309-0167.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 ^5.5 “Dermatology Atlas”.

[AllenRader2007-1] Allen, Brian; Rader, Christine; Babigian, Alan (2007). “Giant lipomas of the upper extremity”. Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 15 (3): 141–144. doi:10.1177/229255030701500308. ISSN 1195-2199.

[pmid26665243-2] Gurich RW, Pappas ND (December 2015). “Lipoma of the Tendon Sheath in the Fourth Extensor Compartment of the Hand”. Am J. Orthop. 44 (12): 561–2. PMID 26665243.

[KangWang2006-3] Kang, Hyun-Seung; Wang, Kyu-Chang; Kim, Kwang Myung; Kim, Seung Ki; Cho, Byung Kyu (2006). “Prognostic factors affecting urologic outcome after untethering surgery for lumbosacral lipoma”. Child’s Nervous System. 22 (9): 1111–1121. doi:10.1007/s00381-006-0088-5. ISSN 0256-7040.

[JonesWykes2018-4] Jones, Victoria; Wykes, Victoria; Cohen, Nicki; Thompson, Dominic; Jacques, Tom S (2018). “The pathology of lumbosacral lipomas: macroscopic and microscopic disparity have implications for embryogenesis and mode of clinical deterioration”. Histopathology. 72 (7): 1136–1144. doi:10.1111/his.13469. ISSN 0309-0167.

[Dermatology_Atlas-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 ^5.3 ^5.4 ^5.5 “Dermatology Atlas”.

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