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What Does This Ultrasound Report Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Jun 2016
Question: I just had an ultrasound of a mass on midline upper back. Impressions said most consistent with simple lipoma. Absence of identifiable intratumoral arterial and venous spectral waveform patterns mitigates against liposarcoma. What does this all mean? Sounds scary
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it means it's benign, nothing to be scared of!

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

the ultrasound says it's a simple lipoma. The radiologist does not believe it could be a liposarcoma (which is a malignant tumor). This is good news! Lipomas can be removed for aesthetic reasons or when they're too big.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (15 minutes later)
It measures 7x7x2.4 cm. Why if it's lipoma does he also put it's relatively well defined solid mass whose overall echotexture is similar to adjacent subcutaneous fat. I thought lipomad were sift and not solid? He writes this in findings before he writes final impression remark
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
all the findings are consistent with lipoma

Detailed Answer:
Lipomas are solid masses. They are soft in palpation but they're solid... The ultrasound scan does not evaluate the the soft or hard nature of the mass, perhaps that's confused you.

Findings of liposarcomas include large size (yours is large), heterogeneous echotexture (not mentioned in your case) and blood flow inside the mass (lack of blood flow is noted). Lipomas may only have minimal blood flow.

Biopsy would be the most decisive test to evaluate the true nature of the mass but the scan says that it's a lipoma...

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (8 minutes later)
Are you saying mine is a liposarcoma then because it's large? I'm confused about the texture u mention that u say is not mentioned in mine and blood flow. Please explain. Getting nervous
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it's a lipoma...

Detailed Answer:
No... I didn't say that it's a liposarcoma. I said exactly the opposite!

I just mentioned that liposarcomas are usually larger than lipomas and your mass is large enough but it doesn't mean that it's a malignant tumor. Lipomas can be that large too!

Heterogeneous echotexture are against lipomas but the radiologist has not detected such a sign. I just mentioned it as an additional clue against the malignant nature of your mass.

Finally the blood flow in your case was minimal only. This is consistent with a lipoma. Liposarcomas have more prominent blood flow.

So all the findings of the scan are consistent with the diagnosis of a lipoma. I hope it's more clear this time!

Best regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (24 minutes later)
Dr zografakis. It also said employing the most sensitive spectral doppler techniques no arterial nor venous doppler waveforms ate identified within this mass. I don't understand all this terminology please explain
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it means "no blood flow"

Detailed Answer:
I haven't quite understood whether you're interested in the interpretation only or something else. Please clarify that...

The Doppler technique is used to detect blood moving towards the transducer or away from it. The radiologist detects certain waveforms and the device converts them to images. Blood flow is seen as red or blue color in the ultrasound photos. No such colors means minimal blood flow to the mass. Minimal blood flow means "not malignant" in your case.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)
You have clarified my concerns and I thank you. It's when you read the terminology they use and it's not fully explained u think you are dying or possibly missing something in the interrum. I forgot to mention I had this fir years it just seem to have gotten larger and I didn't notice. Can it's size be causing the pain and discomfort I'm feeling in that area now?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
large lipomas can cause pain.

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome! I'm glad you feel better about it.
Lipomas are benign and are fairly easily removed, an exception being the spinal lipomas which may be associated with neurological problems due to their proximity with the spinal cord.

Although most lipomas are painless, some pain or discomfort is possible sometimes.

Kind Regards!


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (7 minutes later)
Then I'm concerned cause mine is right on middle upper back looks like resting on spine. Now what
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it's up to the surgeon to tell you that...

Detailed Answer:
The surgeon will tell you if this is your case after clinical examination of the lipoma. I understand that you're going to have it removed? If your doctor suspected spinal cord involvement then you would have been referred to a neurosurgeon. But this is a question for your surgeon!

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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What Does This Ultrasound Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: it means it's benign, nothing to be scared of! Detailed Answer: Hello, the ultrasound says it's a simple lipoma. The radiologist does not believe it could be a liposarcoma (which is a malignant tumor). This is good news! Lipomas can be removed for aesthetic reasons or when they're too big. Kind Regards!