Cause Of OC Surfers' Strange Chest Growths, Identified By UCI Researchers

IRVINE, CA — An Orange County university is helping to identify a condition unique to longtime surfers commonly mistaken for cancer.

Dermatology Professor Dr. Jeffrey Klein at UC Irvine spearheaded research into identifying the fatty, yet benign growths that develop on surfers' chests.

The growths are called "lipsurfomas," and can develop at points on the chest wall from the repetitive low-intensity trauma that occurs when prone paddling, according to the study.

The study followed seven patients with the condition and found that the masses appeared to uniquely affect shortboard surfers and increase in size with increased surfing.

Dr. Klein told KNX News that while these masses are benign, they can often be mistaken for cancer and lead to unnecessary testing, treatment and worry.

According to the study, liposurfomas will persist or grow in size if surfing activity continues, but can be treated with surgery or liposuction.

"These lesions are rather common in surfers, as most 'older, long-time' surfers know of someone with these soft symmetric growths on the chest," the study said. "Additionally, the literature lacks a consistent and clear nomenclature for these tumors."

Liposurfomas should not be confused with "surfers' knots," which are symmetric rock-hard fibrotic masses on the lower part of the body that impact longboard surfers, the study said.