• A rare disease characterized by multiple tumor-like fatty deposits that press on nerves in various sites causing pain and weakness. Often these lipoma-like structures are located on the trunk and limbs but not on the face and hands.
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
• A rare genetic disorder characterized by the development of painful lipomas during adulthood, especially in menopausal women. Associated symptoms include fatigue, obesity, confusion and depression.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• First described in 1892 by the American neurologist Francis Xavier Dercum at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dercum disease (adiposis dolorosa) is an unusual progressive syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by multiple painful lipomas that arise in adult life, most often affecting obese postmenopausal...
  Medscape
  WebMD, 2025
• Adiposis dolorosa is a rare condition characterized by the growth of multiple, painful, lipomas (benign, fatty tumors). The lipomas may occur anywhere on the body and can cause severe pain. Other symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, and memory disturbances. It usually occurs in adults, and women are more commonly affected than men....
  NIH Genetic and Rare Diseases
  National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences