Synonym(s)
Adiposis dolorosa; Anders Syndrome; Dercum disease; Dercum's disease; Dercum Vitaut Syndrome; Lipalgia; Neurolipomatosis; Obesalgia; Obesity dolorosa; Obesity tuberosa simplex; Other Disease
HistoryThis section has been translated automatically.
Dercum, 1888
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Rare disease characterized by spontaneous or pressure painful lipomas, which is mainly observed in obese women in the menopause.
Other symptoms are fatigue, depression and other psychiatric and psychological abnormalities.
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ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.
Classification of Dercum's disease (n. Hansson E et al. 2012)
- Subtype I Generalized diffuse form
- Subtype II Generalised nodular form
- Subtype III Localized nodular form
- Subtype IV Juxtaarticular form
EtiopathogenesisThis section has been translated automatically.
Unknown. Mostly sporadically occurring, in some families autosomal dominant inherited.
ManifestationThis section has been translated automatically.
Mostly occurring in obese women in the menopause.
LocalizationThis section has been translated automatically.
Mainly located on the hull and acra.
Clinical featuresThis section has been translated automatically.
Localized obesity. Spontaneously developing, painful fat bulges covered by blue-red skin. Possibly pruritus, adynamic, apathy, mental disorders, especially emotional instability, depression, epilepsy, confusion and even dementia. Joint pain, nosebleeds.
HistologyThis section has been translated automatically.
Normal fat tissue. No inflammatory changes.
Differential diagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.
Painful angiolipomas
Elephantiasis: Affects mainly the lower extremity. Usually only tension pain
Non-painful lipoma: Soft non-pressuredolent nodule
Circumscribed mucinosis
Lipedema syndrome, painful: Affects mainly the lower extremity.
TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.
A causal therapy is not known. In localized forms excision or liposuction.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Brodovsky S et al (1994) Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum's disease): 10-year follow-up. Ann Plast Surgery 33: 664-668
- Campen R (2001) Familial occurrence of adiposis dolorosa. J Am Acad Dermatol 44: 132-136
- Dercum FX (1888) A subcutaneous connective tissue dystrophy of the arm and neck, associated with symptoms resembling myxedema. Univ Med Gaz Philadelphia 1: 140-150
- Dercum FX (1892) Three cases of a hitherto unclassified affection resembling in its great aspects obesity, but associated with special symptoms: adiposis dolorosa. On J Med Sci 104: 521-535
- Hansson E et al (2012) Review of Dercum's disease and proposal of diagnostic criteria, diagnosticmethods
, classification and management. Orphanet J Rare Dis 7: 23. - Kyllerman M (2002) Dysarthria, progressive parkinsonian features and symmetric necrosis of putamen in a family with painful lipomas (Dercum disease variant). Neuropediatrics 33: 69-72
- Steiner J (2002) Lipomatosis dolorosa--a frequently overlooked disease picture. Neurologist 73: 183-187
- Wollina U et al (2018) Differential diagnosis of lipedema and lymphedema. Dermatologist 69:1039-1047
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Incoming links (7)
Dercum disease; Lipalgia; Lipedema syndrome, painful; Obesalgia; Obesity dolorosa; Panniculitis nodularis nonsuppurativa; Sacrum syndrome, lipomatous;Outgoing links (8)
Angiolipoma; Elephantiasis; Excision; Lipedema syndrome, painful; Lipoma (overview); Liposuction; Mucinosis cutaneous (overview); Pruritus;Disclaimer
Please ask your physician for a reliable diagnosis. This website is only meant as a reference.
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer