Lipoma
A lipoma is a benign fatty lump that commonly forms under the skin but can also occur deeper in the body.
When to get help quickly: Lipomas are usually not urgent, but prompt review is important if a lump is rapidly enlarging, painful, very firm, fixed in place, or causing pressure symptoms.
Common symptoms
A lipoma often feels like a soft, smooth lump under the skin that moves slightly when touched. Most are painless, though some become uncomfortable if they press on nearby tissues.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when the lump is deep, large, painful, growing, or not clearly behaving like a simple fatty lump.
What radiology does
Ultrasound, CT, or MRI help confirm fatty composition and assess whether the mass has simple or atypical features.
What usually happens next
Many lipomas only need reassurance, while painful, enlarging, or unusual lesions may be removed or investigated further.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related scan guides
- Adrenal MRIAn Adrenal MRI is a focused scan of the small glands that sit above each kidney. It is most often used to characterise a mass found unexpectedly on another scan, and to tell harmless adenomas apart from lesions that need further attention.
- Soft Tissue Mass BiopsyA Soft Tissue Mass Biopsy evaluates unexplained lumps under the skin, in the fat, or deep inside a muscle using ultrasound or CT guidance to precisely identify what the mass is made of.
- Soft Tissue Mass MRIA Soft Tissue Mass MRI is a detailed scan of a lump or growth in the muscle, fat, or other soft tissues. It is used to characterise the lump, distinguish benign growths from sarcomas, and guide biopsy or surgery.