Occasionally there may be a lumpy, slow-growing or sometimes fast-growing tumor under the skin. Most of the time they are soft, mobile lesions and do not cause symptoms. But others are hard, non-mobile and present symptoms and pain. In a very general way the main causes of these lumps are:
- Lipoma
- Sebaceous cyst
- Tumors of tissues or soft parts.
They usually appear in any part of the body, being more common in the neck, torso, forearms, abdomen, back and legs.
- Lipomas are benign soft tissue tumors composed of fat cells. They can cause pain and / or local discomfort by compression of peripheral nerves presenting cramps, electric shocks, numbness of the areas around the lesion. They usually grow slowly (years) and can grow very fast in a short time (suspect malignancy). Lipomas can grow under the skin or between the muscles. Most cases can be removed with a small surgery with local anesthesia in the office with excellent results and minimal recovery, but sometimes because of the size and location should be performed in an operating room as outpatient surgery or short stay.
- A sebaceous cyst is a pocket that forms under the skin and contains a viscous and fatty substance (sebum). It usually forms from inflammation of a hair follicle or skin trauma. It is most often located on the scalp, although it is also common to find them on the face, back of the ears, back, scrotum or legs. Their size is very variable, although if they are not removed they can acquire a considerable and clearly visible volume. They are characterized by an elastic but firm consistency and can cause symptoms such as pain, numbness of the area. Most cases can be removed with a small surgery with local anesthesia in the office with excellent results and minimal recovery, but sometimes because of the size and location should be performed in an operating room as outpatient surgery or short stay.
- Tumors of tissue or soft tissue is a cancerous tumor is malignant, which means it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Both children and adults can develop this type of tumor among them the most frequently found are tissue or soft tissue sarcomas. For its diagnosis requires a general surgeon to evaluate each case and determine the need for imaging studies such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and with these studies it is evaluated whether surgery can be done to remove it or only a biopsy is taken. Once the tumor or biopsy is taken, it must be sent to an expert pathologist to determine the next steps of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy and joint management with oncology.
Dr. Javier Cisneros Lopez is a general surgeon specializing in anorectal pathology surgery in the city of Tijuana, Baja California Mexico with 26 years of experience and more than 7,000 procedures performed. If you have any symptoms or doubts about your health, schedule an appointment here to receive medical attention appropriate to your condition.
