Liposurfomas are fibrofatty lumps described on the chest wall and upper abdomen of surfers. A 2024 case series documented seven surfers with these growths, but it did not measure how common they are or show that cases are increasing across the United States. The proposed explanation is repeated pressure against a surfboard while paddling prone—not a proven cause.
What is a liposurfoma?
“Liposurfoma” is a name proposed by the authors of a 2024 medical report for acquired fibrolipomas—growths made up of fibrous tissue and fat cells—on the chest wall or upper abdomen. In the reported surfers, the lumps were often soft, symmetric, and located near the anterior costal margin, where the torso can press against a board during prone paddling.
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The term is relatively new, and earlier descriptions used inconsistent labels. The name does not itself establish what caused a lump or whether it is harmless; a new or changing mass needs clinical assessment rather than self-diagnosis.
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Does the evidence show that US surfers are developing them more often?
No. The primary evidence is a seven-person case series published in JAAD Case Reports on January 26, 2024. It describes cases, not a representative sample of surfers. It therefore cannot establish prevalence, a national increase, or how risk varies by age, surfing history, or time spent on a board. The available sources do not provide a US incidence or trend estimate.
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The authors wrote that the lesions were “rather common in surfers, as most ‘older, long-time’ surfers know of someone with these soft symmetric growths on the chest.” That is the authors’ qualitative observation, not a measured prevalence result. Read the seven-case report.
How might surfing contribute?
The authors propose that repeated, low-intensity compression during prone paddling may contribute. In that position, the chest or upper abdomen can be pressed between the ribs or costal margin and the board’s deck. Over time, they suggest, repeated contact could prompt a fibrofatty response.
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This is a plausible mechanism drawn from the cases, not a cause proven by controlled research. The report does not establish that surfing alone causes these growths or that every lump in the same area is a liposurfoma.
How are liposurfomas different from other surfer-related lumps?
The report distinguishes liposurfomas from “surfers’ knots,” which it describes as hard, callus-like masses on the lower extremities—such as knees, feet, or toes—associated with kneeling on longboards. A surfer’s bursa is another distinct, rare chest-wall mass discussed by the authors; it has different histology. These conditions are not interchangeable diagnoses, and appearance alone cannot reliably tell them apart.
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When should a chest or abdominal lump be checked?
Arrange an assessment with a clinician for an unexplained mass, especially if it is changing, tender, or otherwise concerning. The case series notes that these growths can be mistaken for other lesions; some reported cases involved physician assessment and examination of tissue under a microscope. An article or photograph cannot confirm whether a particular lump is a liposurfoma or rule out another cause.
What treatments have been reported?
The seven cases describe different choices, not a comparison proving which treatment works best. Three people had surgical removal with histologic analysis, two underwent tumescent liposuction, and two chose no treatment. Decisions about a particular mass should be made with a qualified clinician.
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| Option | Purpose and trade-offs reported |
|---|---|
| Observation | Two people in the series chose no treatment after discussion. The report notes that lesions can persist or recur if surfing continues. |
| Wetsuit foam padding | Padding over the contact point was described as a way to reduce soreness or discomfort during prolonged prone paddling. The report does not show that padding prevents growths or reverses existing ones. |
| Tumescent liposuction | Two cases underwent liposuction using epinephrine and lidocaine. The authors describe the fibrous tissue as technically challenging; in one case, the growths increased slightly during continued surfing and additional treatment followed. This is not a general success rate. |
| Surgical excision | Three cases had removal with histologic analysis. The report identifies visible scarring as a trade-off. |
The small series does not provide robust comparative evidence on effectiveness, recurrence, or the best choice for an individual. It also does not establish padding as a preventive measure.
What the report can—and cannot—tell surfers
- It documents a recognizable pattern of fibrofatty chest-wall or upper-abdominal growths in seven surfers.
- It offers repeated board pressure during prone paddling as a possible contributing mechanism, not a confirmed cause.
- It does not show that liposurfomas are becoming more common in the US or estimate how many surfers have them.
- It describes observation, excision, liposuction, and padding for comfort, but does not prove one treatment is superior.
For the primary clinical description, see the 2024 case series. The UC Irvine School of Medicine newsroom and SURFER’s October 6, 2026 coverage provide additional context, but neither supplies a national prevalence estimate.
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