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Lipomas signs & symptoms · Lipomas diagnosis · Lipomas treatment · Lipomas related articles
Fatty Tumor & Lipoma medical terms: Adipocytes, Benign neoplasm, Malignant neoplasm, Granuloma, Hyperpigmentation, Lipocyte, Vacuol
A lipoma is one of several different types of skin tumors. It is a slow-growing collection of fat cells (lipo=fat and oma=tumor) usually found just under the skin. Lipomas are different than normal fat because they form lumps rather than a flat layer under the skin. Like any tumor, lipomas are a form of cancer, but they are a benign form, which means they are a group of cells that multiply without normal control but do not travel through the body (metastasize) or invade surrounding tissue. Even though lipomas are not destructive to other cells, they can cause health problems by growing so large they press on internal organs. Depending upon where they develop, lipomas can interfere with walking and movement. When lipomas interfere with movement, which is common when they grow between the front leg and body wall (in the axilla), friction can wear through the skin and infections can develop.
What is an infiltrative lipoma?
Normally lipomas sit in a little pocket or fibrous case separated from surrounding tissues, but very rarely lipomas penetrate into the surrounding tissues, especially into muscle. This is an infiltrative lipoma. Although an infiltrative lipoma does not metastasize to other areas of the body, it is not as benign as a regular lipoma. Infiltrative lipomas, like regular lipomas, can develop in multiple locations on a pet.
Infiltrative lipomas usually do not feel like simple lipomas because they are firmer and are fixed to underlying tissues. They may also be painful because they interfere with muscle contraction. Some will cause lameness.
Skin tumors
Tumors of all kinds are common in pets, and about one-third of all dog tumors are located in the skin. About one-quarter of all feline tumors are located in the skin. Among the common canine and feline skin tumors are mast cell tumors, perianal adenomas, fibrosarcomas, melanomas, histiocytomas, squamous cell carcinomas, hemangiopericytomas, and basal cell tumors.
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Who gets lipomas (fatty tumors)?
Lipomas develop more easily in some breeds than others. Shetland Sheepdogs and Doberman Pinschers may be genetically predisposed. Dogs with poorly functioning thyroids (Hypothyroidism) are also prone to developing lipomas.
In addition to being common in dogs, fattty tumors (lipomas) are common in little budgerigar parakeets. Lipomas are rare in cats, and are rare in horses. Unfortunately, when lipomas occur in horses, they can form on a stalk within the abdomen, become twisted, and cause colic.
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The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians
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