HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

Which of the following is true about a lipoma?

1. It is usually malignant

2. It is made up of fat cells

3. It commonly occurs in bone tissue

4. It is a cancerous growth

The correct answer is: It is made up of fat cells

A lipoma is a benign tumor that is primarily composed of adipose tissue, or fat cells. This characteristic makes option B the correct answer. Lipomas are typically soft to the touch, movable, and painless. They can occur in various locations throughout the body, but they are most commonly found just beneath the skin, especially in areas such as the arms, thighs, and trunk. The other choices highlight characteristics that do not apply to lipomas. For instance, lipomas are benign, not malignant, which debunks the notion of malignancy in the first option. They are also not associated with bone tissue, as they are primarily soft tissue tumors. Lastly, while they are tumors, they are not cancerous growths, which distinguishes them from more serious tumors or cancers. Understanding that lipomas are harmless growths made up of fat cells is crucial in recognizing their benign nature and differentiating them from more concerning tumors in clinical practice.