Adipose Tissue Tumor (Lipoma)

A lipoma is a benign tumor arising from adipocytes. It is most commonly located in the subcutaneous tissues of the chest and abdomen but, rarely, may occur in the subcutaneous tissues of the eyelids. The lesion appears as a soft, mobile subcutaneous swelling. It occurs more commonly in middle-aged and older large-breed dogs.

Treatment

Fine-needle aspiration and examination of the aspirate may provide a preliminary diagnosis. Definitive diagnosis is established by histopathologic examination after surgical removal. Surgical excision is indicated, and recurrence is generally not observed.

Lipoma of the upper eyelid in a dog.

Adapted from the Atlas of Ocular Diseases in Dogs and Cats by Dr. Siniša D. Grozdanić and colleagues. © Animal Eye Consultants of Iowa. The text and clinical images on this page are original content from the authors' own clinical practice and research, and may not be reproduced, distributed, or repurposed without permission.

Think your pet may have adipose tissue tumor (lipoma)?

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