Lumps?

shelloz1

Please could someone tell me, how can you tell the difference between a lump and fatty cells.  I am overweight, my stomach is quite fatty, I feel several lumps in my stomach, some are small, but some seem to be larger and more prominent.  I had a CT done about 1 week ago, if I had something could it be missed?

TenderIsOurMight

Hi Shelloz,

Lumps in the skin of the abdomen (stomach area) may be a lipoma (organized collection of fat). But obviously, only your physicians can make a diagnosis. I take it you are not concerned about a breast lump. Breast lumps should be biopsied, as it's the only definitive way to ensure there is no problem. A CT scan will not show skin lumps that I am aware of; rather, it shows deeper abdominal structures. Perhaps some more discussion with your doctor would help clarify the issue for you.

Best to you,

Tender 

shelloz1

Hi Tender,

Thanks for writing back!  I am not worried about breast lumps, although, I have felt some of those too, but have had a mammi, US and CT, and assume that one of those would have picked up something.  When you say a CT scan would not show skin lumps, does that mean it would not show if the lump there was cancerous also?

Shelley

TenderIsOurMight

I'm not sure that skin lumps are seen on a CT scan. Maybe they might be under certain circumstances, but my understanding is that CT of the abdomen is typically done for looking at internal organs. 

Even if a CT of the abdomen (stomach as you say) shows something in the skin or not, it does not rule out a cancer one way or the other. It takes tissue, studied under a microscope to make a pathologic diagnosis, which is different from a clinical diagnosis.

Sounds like it is necessary to review your lumps with your personal physicians again, as they are truly in charge of your care.

Tender