Adenolipoma

An adenolipoma is a type of lipoma (benign fat tumor) that develops in the eccrine sweat glands. They can occur either in the skin,^[1] or in the thyroid. ^[2]

Adenolipoma
Other names	Lipoadenoma, peri-sudoral lipoma
Microscopic image of a thyroid adenolipoma
Symptoms	Small lump, difficulty breathing
Types	Thyroid adenolipoma, skin adenolipoma
Diagnostic method	Surgical resection
Treatment	Surgical excision
Prognosis	Very good - surgery is curative

Signs and symptoms

Adenolipomas are usually asymptomatic, soft nodules that aren't tender, and are slow-growing.^[3] In the case of thyroid adenolipomas, breathing restrictions may be present.^[4]

Causes

The cause of adenolipomas is unknown. Theories include improper development in the embryo and invasion from connective tissue.^[5]

Diagnosis

Adenolipomas are diagnosed by surgical resection and examining the tumor with a microscope.^[5] The presence of eccrine sweat glands are used to distinguish the tumor from a common lipoma. Size and the development of the capsule (tissue surrounding the tumor) can also aid in diagnosis. ^[6]

Treatment

Adenolipomas are benign tumors, meaning they have no potential to become malignant (cancerous). Surgery is curative,^[1] however, adenolipomas can reoccur.^[4]

History

Adenolipomas are a relatively recent diagnosis, being first described by Hitchcock et al. in 1993 in a case series. Ait-Ourhrouil and Grosshans later made another case series, disagreeing with the given name and proposing the term peri-sudoral lipoma.^[1]