A fatty lump on the neck

A lipoma on the neck is a benign tumor of lipid tissue.

This formation does not pose any particular danger, it grows gradually, without disrupting the structure of tissues and without affecting the functions of nearby organs. It consists of a cluster of lipocytes enclosed in a connective tissue membrane.

Causes of a lipoma on the neck

Science has not yet established the exact causes of the appearance of lipomas. There are many assumptions about the factors of their development, among which the following can be highlighted:

• disorders of lipid and protein metabolism in the body;
• dysfunction of the sebaceous glands;
• hormonal imbalance, especially in women;
• hereditary factor of autosomal dominant type;
• disruption of metabolic processes and removal of toxic substances from the body, accumulation of toxins and salts due to poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle, and various environmental factors;
• traumatic tissue damage, due to which the process of local tissue metabolism is disrupted and the activity of lipocytes is activated;
• various pituitary disorders, especially in men;
• lipid metabolism disorders as a result of traumatic brain injuries, infectious lesions of the central nervous system;
• Wen often occurs against the background of diabetes.

Any of the listed reasons can provoke the development of fatty tumors, or lipomas, on the neck and other parts of the body.

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Symptoms of a lipoma on the neck

A lipoma is a round, spherical, slightly mobile formation ranging in size from a small pea to a dozen centimeters in diameter. It grows gradually, eventually causing serious inconvenience, not to mention the aesthetic side of the issue.

The lipoma has a soft consistency, is not fused with the surrounding tissues, and does not cause pain when palpated. It usually begins to grow in areas of insufficient lipid layer, on the back of the head and neck. This formation itself is not dangerous, it very rarely degenerates into a malignant one, but it constantly increases and can, over time, compress nerve endings or push apart adjacent tissues.

Lipomas can be multiple, spread throughout the body, sometimes merging into one large lipoma. The skin above the tumor surface does not change in color or structure.

Due to microtraumas, bruises, friction and compression by clothing, the lipoma begins to accelerate its growth and become denser.

Lipoma on the back of the neck

The back of the neck is probably the most common location for lipoid tumors.

The location of the lipoma behind the neck often makes it impossible to detect the formation at the initial stages of its development. It is often mistaken for an inflamed enlarged lymph node, but the symptoms of these pathological conditions are different:

• inflammation of the lymph nodes is accompanied by a persistent increase in body temperature, the resulting lump hurts when pressed, and symptoms of general intoxication of the body are observed;
• lipomas do not have pronounced symptoms and do not cause manifestations of the inflammatory process in the body.

What to do if you find signs of a lipoma on the back of your neck?

First of all, do not panic, lipomas in principle do not pose a great danger. If the formation is solitary, has limited dimensions and does not cause you discomfort, you can not take any emergency measures. Large, noticeable tumors, as well as their fusions, are recommended to be removed, after visiting a surgeon and oncologist.

Pain in the wen on the neck

What to do if a lipoma on the neck suddenly begins to manifest itself with aching pain, especially when pressing and palpating? There may be at least three reasons:

• development of an inflammatory process in a lipoid tumor, which, in addition to pain, may be accompanied by redness of the skin over the lipoma and slight itching;
• compression of nerve endings by a growing tumor, while the skin over the formation does not change;
• degeneration of a lipoma into a liposarcoma (extremely rare), accompanied by a feeling of discomfort in the area of the neoplasm, accelerated growth, and fusion of surrounding tissues with the connective tissue capsule.

It should be noted that pain in a tumor of the subcutaneous fat tissue is an alarming sign of any disorders, the emergence of complications or the development of an additional pathological process.

The painfulness of the lipoma is a direct indication for its surgical removal, and it is not recommended to delay this decision. A qualified consultation with a surgeon and oncologist is mandatory in such a situation.

Wen on a child's neck

Fatty tumors occur not only in adults, but also in childhood. It is necessary to be extremely careful with a lipoma of fairly large sizes: lipoid formations can compress nearby tissues, squeeze blood vessels and nerve endings, which leads to disturbances in the circulatory system, tissue trophism, and local metabolism.

An urgent consultation with a specialist is necessary if an inflammatory process develops in the area of the lipoma, and especially if purulent discharge and symptoms of intoxication appear in a child. The doctor may prescribe conservative treatment or consider surgical intervention necessary.

Surgeons do not always welcome surgical removal of subcutaneous fat deposits in children, especially preschoolers. However, each situation is unique and always requires an individual consideration of the problem.

After the tumor is removed, it is recommended that the child be examined by an endocrinologist to determine the causes of the lipoma and possible elimination of the underlying disease to prevent relapses.

Diagnosis of a wen on the neck

Diagnosis of a lipoma on the neck usually does not create problems: it is carried out by a doctor during a local visual examination.

An X-ray examination may be ordered. It will show the presence of a limited homogeneous enlightenment, with possible small calcified areas.

In more severe cases, puncture sampling of material for cytological examination is used to differentiate a benign fatty tumor. This procedure is not very painful and is informative enough to exclude or confirm malignant degeneration of the tumor.

An important diagnostic procedure remains the ultrasound examination method, with which it is easy to detect a limited accumulation of fat cells in a connective tissue capsule. Sometimes a lipoma may not have a capsular shell, then it is called diffuse. There are also known cases of capsule formation not only from connective tissue, but also with the inclusion of smooth muscle elements (myolipoma) or vascular tissue (angiolipoma). The nature and structure of the lipoid formation are examined using a biopsy (tissue analysis).

The most informative method for layer-by-layer examination of a lipoma is magnetic resonance imaging, which allows for clear identification of adipose tissue.

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Treatment of wen on the neck

A fairly slow growth of a lipoma is not a reason to ignore the treatment of the pathological process. Although in some cases, when this formation is small in size, does not bother or interfere, you can wait with the treatment.

With active tumor growth, adjacent tissues, vessels, nerve endings, and organs suffer. Large lipomas can cause deformation of sweat glands and vessels, disrupting their normal functioning. Long-standing lipomas, especially in advanced stages, can cause local blood supply disorders, which manifests itself as blood stagnation or the development of a necrotic process in tissues.

Therefore, you should never let a lipoma get worse; you need to start fighting it as early as possible, especially if the tumor is removed at an early stage, the scar from the procedure is less noticeable, and the healing process is much easier and faster.

As you already understand, there is no conservative method of treating a lipoma; it is removed surgically in a hospital under local or general anesthesia.

How to get rid of a wen on the neck?

We do not recommend that you try to get rid of a lipoma on your own; treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist who knows all the intricacies of the process and can protect you from possible complications.

However, for general development only, let's look at several folk methods of getting rid of a lipoma on the neck.

• Chicken eggs. The essence of the folk method is to remove the film from chicken eggs (preferably domestic ones), and apply them as a compress to the tumor site several times a day.
• Using herbal compresses. Soak gauze in an alcohol tincture of ivy and apply to the wen 3 times a day.
• Using masks. Fresh leaves of the plant golden mustache, aloe, coltsfoot, wild rosemary, ground to a mushy state, are applied as a mask to the affected area.
• Red clay. A flat cake of red clay mixed with salt and sour milk is applied to the wen.
• Lamb fat. The tumor is rubbed with melted lamb fat for 15 minutes three times a day.
• Using garlic. Crushed fresh garlic and sunflower oil in equal proportions are rubbed into the wen.

All these methods are not scientifically proven, so remember that if your condition worsens, the lipoma grows faster, or pain appears, it is recommended that you consult a doctor.

Removal of lipomas on the neck

Only surgical treatment provides complete elimination of lipomas.

After conducting the necessary examinations of the patient, if the diagnosis of lipoma is confirmed, the doctor prescribes a certain type of intervention:

• surgical method - the lipoid tumor is carefully removed through a scalpel incision with subsequent histological examination. The procedure is performed in a hospital. In the future, tissue scarring is possible;
• cryodestruction method – removal of a lipoma by local action of liquid nitrogen. The advantage of this method is the absence of scars at the site of the operation;
• laser exposure – the use of a targeted source of laser radiation, which, acting on the tissue of the neoplasm, does not damage nearby tissues at the same time. Hospitalization is not required for this procedure, there are no scars on the skin;
• radio wave method – removal of a lipoma with a radio wave scalpel. The most gentle and comfortable way for the patient to get rid of a tumor;
• puncture-aspiration method is the removal of the formation by aspiration of the contents through a thin needle.

Modern technologies for removing lipomas ensure minimal tissue destruction, shorten the rehabilitation period and do not disturb the aesthetic appearance of the skin.

Prevention of wen on the neck

After removing a lipoma, it is necessary to take preventive measures to prevent recurrence of the disease.

In cases where there is a hereditary genetic predisposition to disorders of fat metabolism and the appearance of lipoid formations, there are no specific methods of prevention.

General prevention of the formation of lipomas consists of improving the health of the body, stabilizing metabolic processes, and strengthening the immune system.

It is important to eliminate factors that contribute to changes in lipid tissues - these are excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, poor nutrition with an abundance of fats, hot spices, carcinogens, preservatives, chemicals. A healthy and active lifestyle, a complete balanced diet with an abundance of vegetables, fruits and greens, active sports, and being outdoors are welcome.

It is very important to observe the rules of personal hygiene, which promotes the normal functioning of sweat glands.

Forecast of a wen on the neck

A lipoma may not show any signs of growth for a long time, or it may grow, but very slowly. The growth of a lipoma can be provoked by constant friction against clothing, microtrauma, in fact, there may not be an obvious reason. Especially rarely, although it is possible, a lipoma can degenerate into a malignant neoplasm (liposarcoma) with proliferation into surrounding tissues. If this lipid formation has sharply accelerated its growth, sometimes manifests itself with pain, or simply arouses any suspicions in you, it is better to consult an oncologist.

To avoid possible negative consequences, experts recommend removing the lipoma immediately after detection, without delaying the process. In this case, the prognosis is usually favorable. The exception is the presence of a genetic innate predisposition to the appearance of lipomas, such a hereditary factor can contribute to the appearance of relapses of the lipoma, both on the neck and in any other place.

If you discover a lipoma on your neck, under any circumstances it would be a good idea to visit an oncologist and undergo the necessary diagnostics to confirm the benign nature of the tumor.