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RFA for Superficial Lipomas

Radiofrequency Ablation as a Scar-free, Non-operative Approach to Treatment of Superficial Lipomas

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients \>18 years old
* Patients with a lipoma \<5 cm, above the fascia on the trunk, abdomen or extremities

Exclusion Criteria:

* Lipomas of the face or neck
* Angiolipomas (identified on exam as a firm, mobile, occasionally discolored mass)
* Patients with history of hereditary retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis and Werner syndrome
* A history of exposure to herbicides, arsenic and dioxin
* A history of radiation treatment for other cancers

About the study

Lipomas are non-cancerous growths of fatty tissue that develop under the skin in approximately 1 in 1000 people, though this number may be higher. While rarely symptomatic, they often cause emotional distress due to the unappealing appearance of the mass. Treatment of unsightly lipomas is excision with local anesthetic in the office or with sedation in the operating room. The recovery period is short and the procedure is low risk; however, the result of the operation is a visible scar over the site of the lipoma. Many patients defer surgical excision because excision of a lipoma is a cosmetic procedure, but the aesthetic outcome is undesirable.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a technique that applies heat generated by a high frequency, alternating current to soft tissue. The hyperthermia produced by the current causes tissue necrosis that ablates the tissue into which the energy is directed. RFA has been successfully applied to thyroid nodules, pancreatic lesions, esophageal dysplasia and liver tumors. However, the manufacturers of the RFA technology have been focused on its application in pre-malignant and malignant lesions and have not yet considered its application to benign tumors. This study will test the success of RFA for superficial lipomas as a non-surgical option for treatment.

What is being tested

• STARMed VIVA Combo RF System (device)

Sponsor: Columbia University · Participants: 10 · Started: Apr 2, 2025

Contact the study team

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06903208

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Benign Tumors
• Scars

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 1, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.