Pleural Lipoma

A pleural lipoma
- benign tumor of the the pleura, t\
- asymptomatic
- found incidentally on imaging studies,
Clinical
- if they compress adjacent structures
  - some may cause chest pain,
  - coughing, or
  - shortness of breath .
Arise from
- mesenchymal cells that
- differentiate into adipose tissue
- during embryonic development.
Diagnosis of pleural lipomas typically involves imaging studies such as chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, which can show a well-circumscribed mass composed of fat.
In most cases, pleural lipomas do not require treatment unless they cause symptoms or enlarge over time. Surgical excision may be considered for symptomatic or growing tumors, but the risk of complications such as pneumothorax or bleeding should be weighed against the potential benefits.
The prognosis of pleural lipomas is excellent, as they are benign and do not metastasize. However, long-term follow-up may be recommended to monitor for recurrence or growth.