What is the Difference Between Lipoma and Neurofibroma

The key difference between lipoma and neurofibroma is that lipomas arise from the adipocytes while neurofibromas arise from the nervous sheaths.

Lipomas and neurofibromas are fairly common dermatological conditions. They appear as lumps that enlarge over a long period of time. Lipoma is a cluster of fat cells that have become overactive and distended, while neurofibromas are a benign group of nervous sheath tumors.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Lipoma 
3. What is a Neurofibroma
4. Similarities – Lipoma and Neurofibroma
5. Lipoma vs Neurofibroma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Lipoma vs Neurofibroma

What is a Lipoma?

Lipoma is a cluster of fat cells that have become overreactive and distended. They do not have malignant potential. Lipomas can occur in all age groups but are more common among children. They are slow-growing and may take years to become apparent. The presence of multiple lipomas is known as lipomatosis. When there are multiple painful lipomas of various sizes covering most of the areas of the body, that condition is identified as Dercum’s disease.

These lumps are of variable sizes and do not show any sign of inflammation. The skin moves freely over them. The hallmark feature of lipomas is they have lobulated surfaces and edges. Lymph nodes that drain the area are normal along with the surrounding tissues.

What is a Neurofibroma?

Neurofibromas are a benign group of nervous sheath tumors. These are more heterogeneous in nature than schwannomas and are made of neoplastic Schwann cells that are mixed with perineurial cells such as fibroblasts.

Neurofibromas can appear as isolated lesions or secondary to neurofibromatosis.

Depending on the growth pattern of the tumors neuromas are divided into three main categories:

• Superficial cutaneous neuromas -These are usually pedunculated and can be either single or multiple.
• Diffuse neurofibromas – This variety is typically associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 and is characterized by the presence of plaque-like lesions that are elevated from the skin level.
• Plexiform neurofibromas – Plexiform neurofibromas arise in either superficial or deep structures of the body.

Morphology of Neurofibromas

Localized cutaneous neurofibromas are found either on the skin or within the subcutaneous fat. They are well-delineated lesions and are usually encapsulated. Diffuse neurofibromas are similar to localized cutaneous neurofibromas in most aspects. What differentiates them from cutaneous lesions is their infiltrative pattern of growth. There is a Meissner’s corpuscle like appearance due to the presence of collections of cells. Plexiform neurofibromas grow within the nerve fascicles and expand while entrapping the associated axons.

If neurofibromas are associated with neurofibromatosis, the patients can have other features such as,

• Learning difficulties
• Malignant transformation
• Scoliosis
• Fibrodysplasia

Surgical removal of the neurofibromas has to be done if they become symptomatic.

Similarities Between Lipoma and Neurofibroma

• Both lipoma and neurofibroma appear as lumps that enlarge over a long period of time.
• They are fairly common dermatological conditions.

Difference Between Lipoma and Neurofibroma

Lipoma is a cluster of fat cells that have become overreactive and distended, while neurofibromas are a benign group of nervous sheath tumors. The key difference between lipoma and neurofibroma is that lipomas arise from the adipocytes, whereas neurofibromas arise from the nervous sheaths. In addition, lipoma has no malignant potential, whereas neurofibroma has malignant potential.

The following infographic lists the differences between lipoma and neurofibroma in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Lipoma vs Neurofibroma

Lipomas and neurofibromas are fairly common dermatological conditions. The key difference between lipoma and neurofibroma is that lipomas arise from the adipocytes whereas neurofibromas arise from the nervous sheaths. In addition, lipoma has no malignant potential, whereas neurofibroma has malignant potential.

Reference:

1. Kumar, Clark. Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 8th ed., Elsevier, 2012.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Superficial subcutaneous lipoma” By Jmarchn – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Back of a person with neurofibromas” By Seiradcruz at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia