Pleomorphic lipoma

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Pleomorphic lipoma
Pleomorphic lipoma
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Painless subcutaneous mass
Complications	Rarely, recurrence after surgical excision
Onset	Typically in middle-aged to elderly men
Duration
Types
Causes	Unknown
Risks
Diagnosis	Histopathology
Differential diagnosis	Spindle cell lipoma, Atypical lipomatous tumor
Prevention
Treatment	Surgical excision
Medication
Prognosis	Excellent with complete excision
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

A benign tumor of adipose tissue

A pleomorphic lipoma is a rare, benign tumor that arises from adipose tissue. It is characterized by its distinct histological features, which include pleomorphic spindle cells, floret-like giant cells, and a background of mature adipocytes. This type of lipoma is most commonly found in the subcutaneous tissue of the neck, shoulders, and back.

Clinical Presentation

Pleomorphic lipomas typically present as slow-growing, painless masses. They are usually well-circumscribed and can vary in size. Patients may notice a lump that is soft to the touch and mobile under the skin. These tumors are more common in middle-aged to older adults and have a higher prevalence in males.

Histopathology

The histological examination of pleomorphic lipomas reveals a mixture of mature adipocytes and spindle cells. The spindle cells exhibit nuclear pleomorphism, which is a key diagnostic feature. Floret-like giant cells, which have multiple nuclei arranged in a flower-like pattern, are also characteristic of this tumor. The stroma may show myxoid changes, and there is often a lack of mitotic activity, which helps differentiate it from malignant tumors.

Differential Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for pleomorphic lipoma includes other soft tissue tumors such as:

• Liposarcoma
• Spindle cell lipoma
• Atypical lipomatous tumor
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

Treatment

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

See also

• Lipoma
• Soft tissue tumor
• Adipose tissue
• Histopathology