Herniated superficial lipomas in gluteal and thigh support areas: a special clinical ultrasound presentation
Journal
Acta Radiologica
ISSN
0284-1851
1600-0455
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Type
Resource Types::text::journal::journal article
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p> Lipomas are the most frequent benign tumor. They have been described as soft, well-defined, slow-growing palpable masses, and classified as deep or superficial. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose</jats:title><jats:p> To present the clinical and ultrasound findings of herniated superficial subcutaneous lipoma (HSL), located in pressure/support areas, not previously described. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Material and Methods</jats:title><jats:p> A seven-year retrospective review was performed. Patients with a preoperative high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) diagnosis of HSL archived in the computational system and histological study information were selected. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> A total of 37 patients (mean age = 46 years) were recruited. The clinical diagnoses were “lipoma” or “suspected lipoma” in just 46% of the cases. This was three times more frequent in women. Tumors were located mainly in the gluteal (38%) and proximal thigh areas (35%). Clinically, all patients showed small, soft, rounded skin nodules. On HRUS, they appear as lipomatous tumors that protruded, compressed, and thinned the covering dermal layer. The subcutaneous portion was bigger than the herniated part, with an iceberg image. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p> HSL in support areas have a special clinical ultrasound presentation, not previously described. It is important to recognize them for a proper diagnosis and treatment, especially because they clinically may present as small superficial lesions; however, they are associated with a larger subcutaneous portion (iceberg image). It is probable that an estrogen influence on the adipose tissue can be suspected because of the female predominance. </jats:p></jats:sec>
Subjects
lipoma
;
skin ultrasound
;
subcutaneous lesions
;
soft-tissue tumor
;
high-resolution ultrasound
;
superficial lipomas
;
diagnosis, differential
;
female
;
humans
;
lipoma
;
male
;
middle aged
;
retrospective studies
;
soft tissue neoplasms
;
thigh
;
ultrasonography
;
diagnosis
;
sea ice
;
tumors
;
estrogen
;
benign tumour
;
classifieds
;
high resolution ultrasound
;
lipoma
;
pressure support
;
skin ultrasound
;
soft tissue tumor
;
subcutaneous lesion
;
superficial lipoma
;
ultrasound diagnosis
;
adipose tissue
;
adult
;
article
;
clinical article
;
color doppler flowmetry
;
cutaneous cyst
;
cyst
;
echography
;
female
;
gluteal fat
;
histology
;
human
;
human tissue
;
iceberg
;
lipoma
;
male
;
middle aged
;
neurofibroma
;
neuroma
;
physical examination
;
soft tissue tumor
;
subcutaneous nodule
;
thigh
;
ultrasound
;
diagnostic imaging
;
differential diagnosis
;
lipoma
;
pathology
;
retrospective study
;
soft tissue tumor
;
thigh
;
ultrasonics