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Treatment

Most cats will not need surgical removal of an existing lipoma. However, if the lipoma is restricting movement in any way it will be necessary to remove the lipoma for your cat's comfort. In addition, if diagnostic tests indicate that the mass may be a more aggressive tumor, removal of the mass may be advised while your cat is still under anesthesia. Removal tends to be a simple process if the mass is small, because lipomas are benign, meaning that they have not attached strongly to the body, and a large margin is not needed.

However, one type of lipoma, the infiltrative lipoma, requires a more complex procedure. As the name implies, infiltrative lipomas invade into muscle tissue and fascia and can make complete surgical excision difficult. Radiation therapy may also be used for infiltrative lipomas; alone, or in conjunction with surgical excision.

Living and Management

Other subcutaneous masses, like mast cell tumors, can mimic the appearance of a lipoma. It is of extreme importance that every mass be evaluated individually. You will need to monitor your cat's lipomas, noting any changes in size or location.