Benign fatty tumors : classification, clinical course, imaging appearance, and treatment

• Published in: Skeletal radiology Vol. 35; no. 10; pp. 719 - 733
• Main Authors: BANCROFT, Laura W, KRANSDORF, Mark J, PETERSON, Jeffrey J, O'CONNOR, Mary I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.10.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Lipoma - classification; Lipoma - diagnosis; Lipoma - therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue - classification; Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Adipose Tissue - therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Adipose tissue; Typing; Radiodiagnosis; Magnetic resonance; Characteristic; Gadolinium; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Neoplasm; Symptomatology; Microbiological investigation; Treatment; Computed tomography; Classification; Medical imagery; Soft tissue; Computerized axial tomography; Adipose tissue disorders; Behavior; Diagnosis; Lesion; Benign neoplasm; Lipoma; Subtype; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0364-2348; 1432-2161
• DOI: 10.1007/s00256-006-0189-y

Lipoma is the most common soft-tissue tumor, with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and imaging appearances. Several subtypes are described, ranging from lesions entirely composed of mature adipose tissue to tumors intimately associated with nonadipose tissue, to those composed of brown fat. The imaging appearance of these fatty masses is frequently sufficiently characteristic to allow a specific diagnosis. However, in other cases, although a specific diagnosis is not achievable, a meaningful limited differential diagnosis can be established. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the spectrum of benign fatty tumors highlighting the current classification system, clinical presentation and behavior, spectrum of imaging appearances, and treatment. The imaging review emphasizes computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, differentiating radiologic features.