Patient  comes with a swelling on his body to a doctor which has been there for along period.Many swellings are seen on the body surface which have to be differentiated  from each other .A lipoma  is a swelling on the body surface.This is painless,no pain on pressure,can be pushed in different directions to a little  extent and soft to firm. And some amount of fluctuation as observed in fluid containing cavities can be elicited. This is not an actual fluctuation,  called a pseudo-fluctuation .It grows in size over the years without much problem except a disfigurement. It can grow in any site but commonly in the neck region ,forehead and abdomen are affected.It also can be seen in the body cavities and near vital areas can to cause problem  due to pressure.

It is a benign tumor of fat cells .Can be diagnosed basing the on the above findings.A fine needle aspiration  cytology will clinch the diagnosis. An ultrasonogram is also helpful.Lipoma very rarely may turn to malignancy called a Liposarcoma.One important feature of this tumor is that it burrows into the surrounding tissue if not capsulated.But many times it is capsulated.

Surgical removal is the answer under local,regional or general  anaesthesia.Recovery is uneventful and recurrence is usually not seen.If tumor tissue incompletely removed from holed up locations fear of recurrence remain.

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