Spindle cell lipoma

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Spindle cell lipoma
Spindle cell lipoma under microscope
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Painless, slow-growing mass
Complications	Rarely any
Onset	Typically in middle-aged to older adults
Duration	Chronic
Types
Causes	Unknown
Risks	More common in males
Diagnosis	Histopathology
Differential diagnosis	Liposarcoma, Neurofibroma, Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Prevention	None
Treatment	Surgical excision
Medication	None
Prognosis	Excellent
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Spindle cell lipoma is a rare, benign tumor composed of adipose tissue and spindle-shaped cells. It typically occurs in the subcutaneous tissue of the neck, back, and shoulder regions. This type of lipoma is most commonly found in middle-aged to elderly men.

Presentation

Spindle cell lipomas usually present as slow-growing, painless masses. They are often well-circumscribed and can vary in size. The overlying skin is typically normal, and the tumor is usually mobile upon palpation.

Histopathology

Histologically, spindle cell lipomas are characterized by a mixture of mature adipocytes, spindle cells, and a myxoid stroma. The spindle cells are uniform, bland, and arranged in short fascicles. Collagen bundles and mast cells are also commonly seen. Immunohistochemistry can be used to differentiate spindle cell lipomas from other soft tissue tumors, with spindle cells typically showing positivity for CD34 and negativity for S-100 protein.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of spindle cell lipoma is primarily based on histopathological examination. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy may be performed to obtain tissue samples. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans can be used to assess the extent of the tumor and its relationship to surrounding structures.

Treatment

The treatment of choice for spindle cell lipoma is surgical excision. Complete removal of the tumor is usually curative, and recurrence is rare. Due to its benign nature, spindle cell lipoma does not metastasize.

Prognosis

The prognosis for patients with spindle cell lipoma is excellent. Recurrence after surgical excision is uncommon, and there is no risk of malignant transformation.

See also

• Lipoma
• Adipose tissue
• Benign tumor
• Histopathology