Angiolipoma is a medical term used to describe a benign tumor composed of both adipose and vascular tissue. The word is pronounced as /ændʒiəʊlaɪˈpəʊmə/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of this word can be broken down into its components - angio meaning blood vessel, lipo meaning fat, and oma meaning tumor. This word is commonly used by medical professionals to describe this type of tumor and is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Angiolipoma is a medical term that refers to a benign tumor composed of adipose (fat) tissue and blood vessels. It is a relatively uncommon type of lipoma, which is a noncancerous growth that originates from fat cells. Angiolipomas are characterized by the presence of vascular elements within the tumor, making them distinct from typical lipomas.
These growths are usually small in size, typically measuring less than 5 centimeters in diameter, although larger variants have been reported. They commonly occur just beneath the skin, most frequently in areas such as the trunk, shoulders, arms, and thighs. The exact cause of angiolipomas is unknown, but they are believed to result from a proliferation of fat cells and blood vessels.
Despite being benign and generally harmless, angiolipomas can occasionally cause pain or discomfort, especially if they grow in size or compress adjacent nerves or muscles. Treatment is typically not necessary unless the growth becomes bothersome or symptomatic, in which case surgical excision may be recommended.
It is important to differentiate angiolipomas from other soft tissue tumors, as their composition and potential growth patterns may vary. Medical professionals usually diagnose angiolipomas through clinical examination and imaging techniques such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A definitive diagnosis is typically made by performing a biopsy and analyzing the tissue under a microscope. Overall, angiolipomas are generally considered benign and can be effectively treated, if necessary, through surgical intervention or other appropriate modalities.
A mixed lipoma and angioma.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "angiolipoma" is derived from two components: "angio" and "lipoma".
1. "Angio" is derived from the Greek word "angeion" meaning "vessel" or "container". It is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to blood vessels or lymphatic vessels.
2. "Lipoma" is derived from the Greek word "lipos" meaning "fat". It is a benign tumor composed of adipose (fat) tissue.
When these two components are combined, "angiolipoma" refers to a specific type of lipoma that contains an abundant amount of blood vessels. It is a tumor composed of both fat cells and blood vessels.