Lipoma On The Neck, How To Recognize It?

Lipomas on the neck are relatively common, especially in women between 40 and 60 years of age. They always require medical consultation in order to rule out other pathologies.

Lipoma on the neck is a relatively frequent reason for medical consultation. Let’s start by saying that the lipoma is a lump that is made up of fat cells. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it usually appears on the shoulders, back, or neck.

Let’s clarify from the beginning that the lipoma on the neck is a benign tumor, therefore, do not be alarmed. It is a subcutaneous formation, that is, under the skin. It is suffered by anyone, regardless of gender, age or condition. Research indicates that up to 1% of the population has at least one lipoma in the body.

It is estimated that up to 10% of lipoma cases are located in the neck. On the other hand, the usual thing is that these small lumps do not reach an area greater than 3 centimeters. In extremely rare cases they become large.

Recognize a lipoma on the neck

Both the lipoma on the neck, and those that may appear on other parts of the body, have a rounded shape. They are perceived as a soft mass to the touch. They are not deeply attached, but their appearance is superficial. If you touch them, you can feel them move.

As the scientific literature indicates, lipoma on the neck generally does not cause pain. The usual thing is that they have a very slow growth, although generally this stops and does not reach large magnitudes. They are almost always located on the back or side of the neck.

To recognize a lipoma on the neck, the following criteria must be taken into account:

• It is a lump that is under the skin and is shaped like a dome.
• It has a soft consistency. If the consistency is hard, it speaks of a cyst.
• If pressed, they move and are painless.

Malignant tumors are usually very rigid, hard, and immovable. No matter how hard you try to move them, they will stay there. Lipomas on the neck sometimes cause pain, particularly when they are located near a nerve and begin to grow. The increase in size in a lipoma is usually slow and almost imperceptible.

Causes and diagnosis

Still it is not known the exact reason why form lipomas. It is known that it is an accelerated growth in the production of fat cells, but the precise reason why this occurs is not known.

Despite this, some factors have been defined that facilitate the appearance of a lipoma on the neck. These are:

• Inheritance. It seems to be the most common cause for the appearance of lipomas. Most often, family members of a person with lipoma also have these tumors.
• Obesity. A relationship between obesity and lipomas is suspected, although this has not been fully determined.
• Gender. Lipomas are more common in women, basically because they are more likely to accumulate fat.

• Clinic history. Apparently, liver disease or sugar problems are factors that contribute to the appearance of lipomas.

It is not always easy to diagnose a lipoma on the neck. It looks a lot like a swollen lymph node. It also has many similarities to certain cysts and tumors. In order to define what it is, the usual thing is for the doctor to do an exhaustive interview about the appearance and evolution of the lump.

Most likely, he will scan the tumor right away, palpating the area. If there is pain, or the symptoms are not very clear, an ultrasound or other imaging test is often ordered. A biopsy may also be ordered.

Other considerations

Lipoma on the neck can appear at any age. However, it has been proven that there is greater risk in the ages between 40 and 60 years. There are also some health conditions that lead to the appearance of these tumors. The most common are Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba, Madelung, Cowden, and Gardner syndromes.

Lipomas have also been found to be more common in people who play sports and have recurrent lesions in the same areas of the body. That is why it is important to protect the areas that are most exposed to systematic shocks.

Whatever the case, whenever a lump of these appears, either in the neck or elsewhere, you should see a doctor. The human body is not a machine and each person is different. That is why sometimes what appears to be a lipoma is not and vice versa.