Preperitoneal lipoma is a neoplasm of a benign nature, in appearance it resembles a cyst, which contains fatty tissue and connective tissue fibers. The disease prevents a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. In order to prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to regularly take tests and visit a doctor.
Features of the disease
The most common cause of lipoma is severe trauma. The abdominal wall is the most unfavorable place for the formation of such pathologies, because when the tumor grows, it compresses the pelvic organs and causes great discomfort to the patient. At the initial stages of development, the disease does not make itself felt, only when the lipoma significantly increases in size, there are bright signs of the disease. Preperitoneal lipoma consists of adipose tissue and develops in the region of the abdominal muscles. Such a wen appears if a violation has occurred in the process of cell formation. Many people compare lipoma with a hernia, but this is wrong, because a hernia appears because the weak abdominal wall does not withstand pressure.
If you see a doctor in time, then the lipoma does not threaten serious consequences for the patient. In the event that the inflammatory process occurs, and the tumor begins to actively develop, serious complications may appear. If the tumor appeared in the retroperitoneal space, then it is very difficult to determine whether it is benign or malignant. To do this, it is necessary to carry out surgical intervention, after which the tissue will be sent for histological examination. Using this method, doctors will determine the nature of the lipoma.
The main reasons for the appearance
There are a number of factors under the influence of which a preperitoneal lipoma appears. These include:
- Obesity. Excess weight can trigger the development of lipoma. As medical practice shows, overweight people are most often diagnosed with this disease. This is due to the fact that excessive eating and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract have a bad effect on the development of fat cells. For this reason, adipose tissue begins to grow actively, increasing the chance of an atypical structure.
- Pelvic injuries. After severe damage, the work and structure of the tissue are disrupted. In frequent cases, everything heals quickly and returns to its original form, but sometimes a structural change occurs. Because of this, cells begin to grow rapidly.
- Unexpected appearance. Sometimes a lipoma develops without the presence of any factors.
The center line of the body is a white stripe. It runs from the chest to the pubis. In this place there are different muscles. For this reason, the zone is a vulnerability. If a lipoma develops, then the other muscles weaken. As a result, the formation protrudes or turns into a hernia. If the disease is too neglected, then there is strong pressure on the vessels. They begin to squeeze along with the colon and other organs. As a result, intestinal obstruction develops.
Possible complications
If you do not consult a doctor on time, then most likely serious complications will arise that will badly affect the functioning of the whole organism. The most dangerous thing is that a lipoma can grow into a malignant tumor. This disease is dangerous because it can grow into other organs. The disease can activate the process of metastasis in any part of the body. This leads to the death of the patient. Among the less dangerous complications are:
- The appearance of a hernia in the anterior part of the abdominal wall. There is an infringement of the colon. Treatment is carried out only by a surgical method. The formation and part of the intestine is removed.
- There are disturbances in the functioning of neighboring organs, which are located in the pelvic area.
- Severe inflammation of one of the organs or internal bleeding.
To reduce the risk of serious complications, it is important to have regular medical examinations. Experts say that most patients learned about the presence of a tumor during a medical examination. Since there are practically no complaints at the initial stage of development.
First signs
At home, it is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own. Only after a medical examination, the doctor is able to determine the presence of the disease. Among the first possible symptoms of preperitoneal lipoma may be:
- general weakness;
- headache;
- fever;
- discomfort in the pelvic area;
- pain during bowel movements.
Since these signs can also indicate the presence of other pathologies, it is important to consult a specialist in time. When the disease is started, the lipoma is visible to the naked eye. A photo of the preperitoneal lipoma (we cannot provide it for aesthetic reasons) will help determine its presence. Sizes can range from peas to a human head. At the time of palpation, the patient feels pain or discomfort. At the last stages of development, the tumor can sag.
Tumor Diagnosis
The choice of diagnostic method depends on the location and consistency of the lipoma. If it is inconvenient for the doctor to feel the place, then an additional research method must be used. This can be a radiography or an ultrasound. Using X-ray diagnostics, the structure of the soft tissue of the body is assessed. If the pathology is in the retroperitoneal space, then the specialist additionally uses artificial contrasting with gas. The best method for studying deep lipomas is X-ray tomography. This type of study allows you to clearly analyze the state of adipose tissue. If there are doubts about the nature of the formation of lipoma, then you should take a liquid and conduct a biopsy. In the case of inpatient treatment, a clinical blood test and a tank analysis are indicated. After the results of the study, the doctor prescribes an individual treatment.
Effective treatment
Preperitoneal lipoma is a benign tumor that consists of fat. Therefore, the drug treatment method is not used. No drugs and infusions can save you from such anomalies. The only way to treat a tumor is to have surgery. The sooner the operation, the better. If the disease is started, then there is a great risk of complications. The quality of the operation directly depends on the experience and qualifications of the doctor. If a specialist has found a preperitoneal lipoma (ICD-10 code: D17), then chemotherapy is carried out only when the pathology has turned into a malignant form.
Main methods
There are many treatments for preperitoneal lipoma. Serious complications most often complicate the process of the operation. Preperitoneal lipoma of the anterior abdominal wall is much easier to treat. If the anomaly is large, then the operation is carried out through the wall of the abdominal cavity. For the reason that tissues are damaged, the rehabilitation process is longer. In the world of modern technology, surgeons have begun using an endoscope. This surgical instrument makes it possible to excise the formation through a small incision, in which case there is a minimal risk of bleeding. The patient leaves the hospital after 4 days. After 2 weeks, you can already return to your usual activities, but it is advisable to avoid heavy physical exertion.
Preventive recommendations of doctors
To prevent the disease from reappearing, several recommendations must be taken into account. Namely:
- Observe proper nutrition. To control your weight, it is important to eat properly and balanced. A sufficient amount of fiber should be present in the diet. The emphasis must be on vegetables and fruits. It is advisable to exclude sweet and flour products, since the body does not receive nutrients from this food. Dairy and dairy products positively affect the intestinal tract and facilitate the bowel movement.
- If there are extra pounds, then you should combine proper nutrition with moderate physical activity. In any case, consult a physician and nutritionist. In the presence of other serious diseases, excessive exercise can only exacerbate the problem.
- It is important to avoid injuries. Most of all this applies to those people who are actively involved in sports.
It is necessary to regularly undergo medical examinations and take tests. An experienced doctor can determine the presence of a tumor even without a hardware examination.
The opinion of doctors
Especially carefully you need to monitor the health of those people in the family who had similar diseases. This is associated with an increased risk of pathology. Sometimes a preperitoneal lipoma is present in a child from birth, it is important not to delay treatment. Experts recommend an inspection once every six months. This will determine the disease at the initial stage of development. If the surgical removal of the formation, which has not yet grown too much, the treatment of preperitoneal lipoma will not be delayed.