The sebaceous gland, defined as lipoma, is a condition characterized by excessive growth of fat cells under the skin. Sebaceous glands, which are in the class of benign formations, can be treated in some people due to pain or cosmetic concerns. The sebaceous gland, which can occur in any part of the body, is usually detected in the shoulder, chest, trunk, neck, thigh and armpit regions. In rare cases, lipoma development may occur in bones, muscles and internal organs.
What is Fat Gland?
The sebaceous gland is the tumorization of fat cells called adipocyte under the skin in the form of a soft and painless nodule. These structures, which can form in any region where normal fat cells are found with variable sizes between 1-10 centimeters, have a fibrous capsule on their outer parts. Care should be taken as more than one number may indicate some syndromic disorders.
Small sebaceous glands, which are among the most common benign formations in the human body, are detected slightly more frequently in men than in women. These structures, which can occur at any age, are most common between the ages of 40-60.
What are the Types of Oil Gland?
Oil glands are soft and mobile (movable) formations when stepped on. The oil glands, which continue to grow for months and years, generally reach a size of 2-3 centimeters. In some people, oil glands on the skin that can grow up to 10 centimeters are referred to as giant lipomas.
All types of sebaceous glands are made up of fat cells. In some varieties of these formations, structures belonging to other tissues of the body, such as blood vessels, may also be present. Types of glands and their characteristics can be briefly summarized as follows:
Angiolipoma If the oil gland hurts, one of the diagnoses that may come to mind is angiolipoma. Composed of fat and blood vessels, this type of sebaceous gland is usually quite painful.
Conventional (Classic) Sebaceous gland These structures, which are the most common type of oil gland, contain white colored energy storage fat cells.
Fibrolipoma Oil gland types consisting of fat and fibrous connective tissue are called fibrolipoma.
HibernomaThis type of sebaceous gland originates from brown fat cells responsible for maintaining body temperature.
Myelo lipomaMyelolipomas are sebaceous glands that contain both fat cells and blood-producing cells.
Spindle Cell Sebaceous Gland Spindle cell sebaceous glands, unlike other sebaceous glands, are formations that tend to grow elongatedly rather than round.
Pleomorphic Sebaceous GlandThis type of sebaceous gland has a variable size and shape. consists of fat cells.
What are the Symptoms of the Sebaceous Gland?
The symptoms that occur with the development of the sebaceous gland include very characteristic features for these structures:
- Feeling softness with touch
- Being mobile when pressed gently from the edge with a finger
- Located just under the skin
- Colorless
- Slow growth
Apart from these symptoms, the complaints that occur in the presence of sebaceous glands may vary according to the region of formation and the size of the gland. Oil glands near the bronchi can press on these lung structures, causing breathing problems or other complaints such as difficulty in swallowing, vomiting or reflux when oil glands around the esophagus occur.
What Causes Oil Glands?
The reason for the formation of oil glands in the body has not been fully elucidated. However, some genetic events can progress especially with the formation of multiple sebaceous glands, and having a family history of lipoma formation is an extra risk factor in these individuals.
There are many different conditions in which the risk of sebaceous gland formation may increase:
- Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum's Disease)
- Cowden syndrome
- Gardner syndrome
- Madelung's disease
- Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome
How is the Diagnosis of Sebaceous Gland?
After the application to health institutions with the complaint of oil glands on the skin, physicians can usually diagnose lipoma only by physical examination methods. In some cases, physicians may resort to biopsy to take a tissue sample from the gland with a small needle. The main purpose of this examination is to distinguish the existing formation from cancerous formations together with laboratory examinations.
Radiological examinations such as ultrasonography, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can also be applied for further examination if different features of the sebaceous gland are detected apart from the biopsy procedure.
How is Sebaceous Gland Surgery Performed?
The answer to the question of how the sebaceous gland is treated can be answered with "surgical intervention". In the presence of various factors in the sebaceous glands, which are generally harmless, resection (removal) or lipoma surgery can be performed:
- Detection of cancerous features
- Rapid growth
- Pain and discomfort
- Interrupting normal body functions
- Cosmetic anxiety
In sebaceous gland surgery, the operator makes a small incision on the skin and aims to pull the sebaceous gland out of this opening by squeezing it from the lower part. Sebaceous gland squeezing is usually done under local anesthesia and people can usually be discharged on the day of the procedure. Larger incisions may be necessary in large sebaceous glands. In some lipoma types, vacuum tools defined as liposuction can be used to clean the formation.
For the treatment of sebaceous glands with liposuction, a thin tube is inserted through the opening on the skin in the first step. Then, with this tube, the substances in the fat structure can be absorbed and the sebaceous gland can be removed from the body. The tissue removed after sebaceous gland surgery is usually sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. In addition to these applications, steroid injection to the relevant area as a solution for sebaceous glands can reduce these structures.
Sebaceous glands are harmless and benign formations, but the point to be considered; They have a very similar appearance to liposarcomas, which are among the rare types of cancer. If there is an increase in the degree of pain related to the existing sebaceous gland, a rapid increase in the size of the sebaceous gland, a temperature increase in the relevant skin area, the sebaceous gland becomes hard or immobile, or if you detect any difference in the surrounding skin, you should apply to health institutions and seek support from specialist physicians. recommended.
You can ask the expert team of Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you are wondering about the oil gland and ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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