The article discusses what it is - a lipoma and how to treat this pathology.
Oncological diseases today are increasingly found among the population of our planet. They pose a real threat to human life and health. The prevalence of this phenomenon is largely due to a combination of factors inevitable for modern society. We are talking about bad ecology, constant stress and a high rhythm of life.
Description
Not all tumors are malignant. There are also benign-type formations, but this does not make them safe and does not give a reason for ignoring them. One of these tumors is a brain lipoma.
A neoplasm is a benign tumor formed from adipose tissue. As a rule, the pathological process proceeds in a latent form and has no manifestations. In exceptional cases, complications can occur that can lead to disability. The appearance of signs of a tumor requires an immediate visit to a specialist.
Congenital Causes
There are two groups of factors that can lead to the formation of lipomas (ICD-10 attributes the disease code D17 to this disease) - acquired and congenital. The latter represent a predisposition at the genetic level. In this case, the type of oncological pathology in a relative does not matter. The presence of any type of tumor in the history of a close relative significantly increases the risk of developing a neoplasm, including brain lipomas.
Acquired Factors
Acquired factors affecting the occurrence of a tumor include the following:
- The effect of chemicals. Modern urban life makes it impossible to get rid of the influence of chemicals. Harmful substances are found in the environment, as well as in food, clothing, etc. The risk of oncology with prolonged exposure to such conditions increases significantly.
- Radiation Every day, the human body is exposed to radiation. Its dosages are minimal, so it does not have an obvious effect on the state of human health. However, if we are talking about activities in the manufacturing sector, then in some cases enterprises use hazardous elements, which can lead to significant exposure. Workers at such plants are automatically at risk of developing cancer.
- Violation in the process of fat metabolism. Due to this pathological process, the risk of atherosclerotic plaques, as well as accumulation of excess adipose tissue under the skin, increases.
- Unbalanced diet and disturbed sleep and rest. It is these factors that lead to a violation of metabolic processes in the body.
- Bad habits. Smoking, alcohol abuse and drug use increase the likelihood of developing a neoplasm.
- Demodecosis In this case, the neoplasm appears as a result of blockage of the ducts of the sebaceous glands. Pathogens are activated against a background of reduced immunity.
Symptoms
The initial stage of development of brain lipoma takes place in a latent form. In the future, the tumor grows and the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear. A similar clinical picture greatly complicates the diagnosis of lipoma. Common to all forms of lipomas are the following symptoms:
- Frequent and high degree of pain in the head.
- Desires for vomiting.
- Dizziness.
- Loss of consciousness on the background of impaired circulation.
Kinds
The characteristic signs vary depending on the type of lipoma:
- Interhemispheric lipoma of the brain is accompanied by positive symptoms, expressed by uncontrolled movements of the limbs, hallucinations, both visual and sound, as well as disinhibited behavior.
- Hemispheric lipoma is characterized by the influence of mutated tissues on some brain centers. This type of neoplasm is accompanied by a violation of the visual field, active synthesis of pituitary hormones, as well as severe pain in the head.
- A spinal cord tumor is accompanied by impaired fluid circulation in the spinal cord, as well as impaired motor function.
All of the listed symptoms of brain lipoma are the result of progression and its pressure on some parts of the nervous system.
Diagnostics
If the tumor is located in the subcutaneous tissue, then diagnosing it is not difficult. An experienced oncologist will be able to make a diagnosis in this case on the basis of a visual examination. Lipoma is a round seal on the skin, the temperature of which is lower than adjacent tissues.
To get a more detailed image of a brain lipoma, doctors prescribe an ultrasound to the patient. It provides information on the size, location and internal structure of the tumor. The main methods for diagnosing lipomas in the brain are:
- CT scan. The method is an X-ray scan of brain tissue by layer-by-layer image overlay. Tomography makes it possible to obtain information about the location and shape of the tumor, as well as about the state of the vessels of the circulatory system in the area of localization of the pathological process. This diagnostic method allows to differentiate a lipoma from other malignant types of tumors. Fat mutation is characterized by the absence of blood vessels in the area of the focus of the pathology.
- Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, of a brain lipoma. This is also a scan, however, occurring under the influence of an electromagnetic field. This method is most informative in the diagnosis of lipoma, as it is able to display any, even the most minor changes that have occurred in the structure of brain tissue.
Treatment
At the initial stage of lipoma treatment, expectant management is selected. This implies regular visits to the oncologist and monitoring the state of the tumor. Depending on the size of the education, the specialist selects the appropriate treatment. Observation is relevant only in the case of small tumor sizes without signs of growth or malignancy.
If the lipoma shows a tendency to progression or is located in such a way that it begins to put pressure on healthy tissues, the doctor may decide on surgery. Before the operation, the specialist chooses the method of anesthesia, taking into account the characteristics of each patient, as well as the location of the tumor.
Delete
Lipoma removal (according to the ICD-10 code, see above) can be performed both in a hospital setting and in an outpatient setting. There are several types of surgical interventions:
- Surgical removal of lipoma with capsule. This method completely eliminates the likelihood of relapse, since the entire tumor is removed. The main danger of the method is the trepanation of the skull, which is a serious intervention.
- Removal by endoscope. You can carry out the procedure using a small hole in the skull. In this case, the risk of brain damage is virtually eliminated. A small chamber is inserted inside the skull, which allows you to remove the tumor without trepanation. For this, special tools are used.
- Puncture-aspiration lipoma removal technique. This is a minimally invasive method that allows you to bring the tube to the tumor through a small hole in the skull. Then the tumor is removed by means of an electric pump. A similar method does not exclude the risk of a relapse of the pathology, since the capsule remains intact. Sutures are removed a week after surgery.
Contact to remove the tumor is necessary to a qualified specialist. Lipoma can lead to a large number of complications, as well as improperly performed surgery. The structure of the lipoma can also significantly complicate the operation to remove it. Sometimes the tumor is intertwined with nerves or blood vessels.
ethnoscience
On the Internet you can find many recipes for traditional medicine that help get rid of lipomas. However, most often we are talking about a method of treating the affected area of the skin.
Treatment with folk remedies for brain lipoma can be effective.
Aloe and Kalanchoe juice, golden mustache, garlic and pork lard, nettle tincture, honey, cinnamon, chestnut, onion-soap gruel compresses, ammonia and celandine are effective.
We examined what it is - a lipoma. How to treat, treat this disease, now you know.