- Written By: S.E. Smith
- Edited By: Kristen Osborne
- Last Modified Date: 06 April 2012
-
Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Fat necrosis is the destruction of fat cells inside the body. It is usually benign, but it can be a symptom of a more serious underlying problem. People often report to the doctor for treatment because fat necrosis results in the formation of a hard lump at the site of the destroyed cells and the patient may think that the lump is a tumor or another cause for medical concern. Treatment for fat necrosis varies, depending on the location and the underlying causes.
In fat necrosis, fat cells are broken down by the body, usually in response to trauma. It can happen after surgery, as a result of physical stress, in the wake of radiation therapy, and in association with chronic diseases like pancreatic disease. As the cells break down, a mass of rubbery tissue can form. This lump will be palpable to the patient if it is near the surface.
A common site for fat necrosis is in the breast. Patients usually view lumps in the breast as a cause for concern and may seek medical treatment when they identify the unusual deposit of tissue. Other areas where this condition can arise include the thighs, where a lump will also be palpable, and in the fat that surrounds the kidneys. In this last case, the fat necrosis will usually be identified by a doctor during other diagnostic testing involving the kidneys such as an imaging study.
In the case of lumps in sites like the breast and thighs, it is not uncommon for the skin above the site of the necrosis to become mottled or lumpy. The patient may feel pain or heat in the area as a result of inflammation, and sometimes discharges develop. Treatment for fat necroses can include warm compresses along with anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the pain and swelling associated with the lump. In the breasts, the lump may be biopsied if a doctor cannot confirm that it is caused by fat necrosis through medical imaging such as mammography.
When the fat around the kidneys is damaged, it is indicative of kidney disease. The patient will need treatment for the kidney disease, including monitoring of kidney function. Another type of fat necrosis can be seen in newborns after traumatic births. The newborn may be worked up for signs of undiagnosed complications from the birth and treatment will be provided to address the lump of scar tissue that forms at the necrosis site.
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anon259541
Post 6 |
Really? Are you people reading the same article I just did and responding? If so, why are you trying to horrify people when it says that fat necrosis in the breast can be treated with warm compresses and anti inflammatories? Let's try that first before we make it a terminal disease like some of you are doing. |
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anon233142
Post 5 |
I am suffering from fat necrosis in my thigh. I was hit by a hard object that caused trauma. A second degree burn developed, and what we thought was the swelling associated with second degree burns turned out to be hematoma and fat necrosis. I just had the cysts drained off fat and blood using syringes yesterday. It is scary. I really hope I get well. |
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anon209955
Post 4 |
I had a lumpectomy and radiation in my left breast many years ago for breast cancer. A couple of years ago I decided to have a breast reduction in my left breast to match the size of my right breast. I then developed fat necrosis in the reduced breast. There was no pain but I was very scared about the lump. I had a sonogram and a needle aspiration and my doctor says no further treatment is necessary. The lump is still there but I can live with it knowing it's not cancer. |
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yournamehere
Post 3 |
So what exactly causes fat necrosis? This sounds like such a scary thing, I want to know how to avoid it! I know that I would be terrified if I ever found out that something like that was happening in my body.
It just sounds so frightening -- necrosis means that something is rotting, right? Well, if anybody knows more about this topic, please let me know, because I would love to hear more about the symptoms and warning signs of traumatic fat necrosis, as well as some more about treatments.
Thanks! |
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EarlyForest
Post 2 |
It's kind of hard to decide which one is worse when you find that the lump in your breast -- a fat disease or cancer.
I know a lot of women are really scared when they find a lump in their breast, and aren't really relieved to find out that it's necrosis, since necrosis can be just as scary and even more painful in some cases than a tumor.
I know there are treatment options, like a fat necrosis induced breast reconstruction, and that fat necrosis is much easier to treat than cancer, but still, I don't know that women with fat necrosis have it any easier. They can experience the same physical and psychological pain of losing part of their breast, and they can also undergo the same stigma that all women do when they have problems with thier breasts.
So to all women out there with necrosis in your breast, I really sympathize with you and applaud your courage. Undergoing something that serious is something I can only imagine. |
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rallenwriter
Post 1 |
I've heard that you can sometimes get fat necrosis after a cosmetic surgery.
For instance, the other day I read an article about a woman who had fat necrosis after a tummy tuck. The woman in the article had an infection after her tummy tuck surgery, and had massive necrosis. I think that she wasn't exactly sure what was going on to begin with, so she left it for a while, thinking that it was just normal post-operative wound pain, so it got really bad.
I think that she eventually had to go in for emergency surgery because the infection was causing her to go septic. Kind of made me rethink ever getting any kind of reconstructive surgery...I mean, I think I would do anything to avoid the risk of necrosis like that! |
