Benign Chest Growths, Known as Liposurfomas, Found in Longtime Surfers

Longtime surfers in Southern California are developing unusual, benign fatty growths on their chests, a condition doctors have identified as "liposurfomas." These lumps are believed to be caused by years of repeatedly grinding their torsos against the hard decks of surfboards while paddling.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, studied seven surfers who presented with these distinctive growths. While they can appear alarming and be mistaken for tumors, the masses are benign. However, they can increase in size with continued surfing. The growths tend to swell during peak surf seasons and may slightly shrink when surfers spend more time on land.

The condition is thought to result from "incessant low-intensity traumatic compression of subcutaneous tissue, squeezed between the costal margin and the hard deck of a surfboard while paddling in the prone position," according to the study. This repetitive pressure is the likely culprit behind the development of these soft, symmetrical chest bumps, which are commonly known within the surfing community.

These liposurfomas are distinct from the better-known "surfer's knots," which are hard, callus-like masses typically found on the knees, feet, and shins of surfers, particularly longboarders. Both conditions are benign tissue growths.

Surf icon Corky Carroll publicly discussed his own experiences with these growths in a 2010 column, referring to himself as "the man with four breasts." The phenomenon has reportedly been observed among surfers for decades.

For surfers seeking to reduce the size of these growths, treatment options include adding extra padding to wetsuits, surgical removal, or liposuction. However, medical professionals caution that if surfers return to the activity, the lumps may reappear due to the ongoing nature of the cause.