Skin lumps

Lipoma

 Benign tumour of adipocytes.

Features

  1. Anywhere except palms, soles and scalp
  2. Subcutaneous
  3. Pseudofluctuant
  4. Smooth/bosselated/lobulated
  5. Soft
  6. Weakly transilluminable
  7. Transgresses tissue planes

Treatment

Excision.

Sebaceous cyst

 Overgrowth of outersheath of hair follicle. Filled with keratin.

Features

  1. Anywhere except palms and soles. Common on scalp.
  2. Central punctum
  3. Fluctuant
  4. Firm, tense
  5. Not transilluminable
  6. Fixed to skin
If multiple and tender = Dercum's disease.

Treatment

Excision.