A lipoma is a benign lump that forms under the skin due to an overgrowth of fat cells. A lipoma can occur in any part of the body where there are fat cells. Lipomas are smooth and rounded or lobulated and move easily. Most of the time, these bumps are relatively small, but researchers have observed “giant lipomas” that are larger than the typical maximum of two inches wide. Lipomas most commonly occur on the neck, trunk, and extremities, but they can appear anywhere on the body. Can a lipoma become cancerous? A lipoma is considered a benign growth, not a cancerous one. There is a very rare type of cancer known as liposarcoma, which occurs within fatty tissue and can look like a deep lipoma. Therefore, lipomas are not cancer and it is very rare for a lipoma to develop into a cancerous sarcoma. However, since it is possible, if you notice that a lipoma begins to change (especially if it grows rapidly or becomes painful), alert your doctor, who may want to perform a biopsy. While all lipomas are made up of fat, there are subtypes based on how they appear under the microscope. Types of lipoma include:.

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