- Common Disease Name:
- Fatty tumors
- Medical Term for Disease:
- Lipoma; Infiltrative lipoma
- Species Affected by Disease:
- Dog
- Age Animal Usually Affected:
- Affects mostly middle-aged animals
- Commonly Affected: Breeds
- Any
- Sex Usually Affected:
- Seen more frequently in females
- Disease Symptoms:
- Small to large diffuse soft masses under the skin; Lipomas may also take on an invasive form where the tumor infiltrates soft tissues, particularly muscles, but also fasciae, tendons, blood vessels, lymph nodes, joint capsules, and nerves. Muscle infiltration is usually so extensive that surgical cures are nearly impossible. Occurs much less frequently than lipoma . Infiltrative lipomas are seen as large, diffuse, soft tissue mass that may appear as localized muscle swelling. The lipomas mostly affects muscles of the pelvis, thigh, shoulder, sternum, and lateral neck area. Sometimes they will be seen on the lower legs and abdominal wall.
- Method(s) of Diagnosis:
- Physical exam and aspirate of the mass. Examination of the cells under the microscope is diagnostic.
- Disease Causes:
- Unknown
- Treatment:
- None is needed, but tumors can be removed surgically if they are in an area that is causing discomfort of is interfering with physical movement. Some tumors can become massive and should be removed.
- Prognosis:
- Excellent if not infiltrative. The characteristic invasiveness makes surgical excision extremely difficult and at least 50% of patients have recurrence after surgery.
- Complications:
- Some large infiltrative lipomas in a leg can interfere with movement, cause pressure-related pain on nerves, or compress blood vessels interfering with circulation of the limb. This is rare. Amputation of an affected limb is only recommended when the tumor affects the animal's quality of life.
- Prevention:
- None
