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The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine Dec 2021Dercum's disease (DD), also described as adiposis dolorosa, is a poorly understood and rare adipose tissue disorder involving obesity and painful adipose tissue masses.... (Review)
Review
Dercum's disease (DD), also described as adiposis dolorosa, is a poorly understood and rare adipose tissue disorder involving obesity and painful adipose tissue masses. Patients may have associated bruising and constitutional symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbance. DD was initially described in 1888 by Francis Xavier Dercum, and was classified into four subtypes, including generalized diffuse, generalized nodular, localized nodular, and juxta-articular subtypes. While this disease has been described for more than 130 years, its etiology and treatment remain elusive. We describe a case of a patient with DD who presented to Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, for evaluation of treatment options. We review current knowledge on this rare disease and data on modern treatment methods.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adiposis Dolorosa; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Obesity; Pain
PubMed: 34970098
DOI: No ID Found -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... Sep 2016Lipedema, or adiposis dolorosa, is a common adipose tissue disorder that is believed to affect nearly 11% of adult women worldwide. It is characterized most commonly by...
Lipedema, or adiposis dolorosa, is a common adipose tissue disorder that is believed to affect nearly 11% of adult women worldwide. It is characterized most commonly by disproportionate adipocyte hypertrophy of the lower extremities, significant tenderness to palpation, and a failure to respond to extreme weight loss modalities. Women with lipedema report a rapid growth of the lipedema subcutaneous adipose tissue in the setting of stress, surgery, and/or hormonal changes. Women with later stages of lipedema have a classic "column leg" appearance, with masses of nodular fat, easy bruising, and pain. Despite this relatively common disease, there are few physicians who are aware of it. As a result, patients are often misdiagnosed with lifestyle-induced obesity, and/or lymphedema, and subjected to unnecessary medical interventions and fat-shaming. Diagnosis is largely clinical and based on criteria initially established in 1951. Treatment of lipedema is effective and includes lymphatic support, such as complete decongestive therapy, and specialized suction lipectomy to spare injury to lymphatic channels and remove the diseased lipedema fat. With an incidence that may affect nearly 1 in 9 adult women, it is important to generate appropriate awareness, conduct additional research, and identify better diagnostic and treatment modalities for lipedema so these women can obtain the care that they need and deserve.
PubMed: 27757353
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001043 -
Proceedings of the Royal Society of... 1923
PubMed: 19982794
DOI: No ID Found -
Proceedings of the Royal Society of... 1911
PubMed: 19974917
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Pain Research Aug 2010Adiposis dolorosa (AD) is a rare disorder of painful nodular subcutaneous fat accompanied by fatigue, difficulty with weight loss, inflammation, increased fluid in...
Adiposis dolorosa (AD) is a rare disorder of painful nodular subcutaneous fat accompanied by fatigue, difficulty with weight loss, inflammation, increased fluid in adipose tissue (lipedema and lymphedema), and hyperalgesia. Sequential compression relieves lymphedema pain; we therefore hypothesized that whole body cyclic pneumatic hypobaric compression may relieve pain in AD. To avoid exacerbating hyperalgesia, we utilized a touch-free method, which is delivered via a high-performance altitude simulator, the Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioning™ (CVAC™) process. As a pilot study, 10 participants with AD completed pain and quality of life questionnaires before and after 20-40 minutes of CVAC process daily for 5 days. Participants lost weight (195.5 ± 17.6-193.8 ± 17.3 lb; P = 0.03), and bioimpedance significantly decreased (510 ± 36-490 ± 38 ohm; P = 0.01). There was a significant decrease in scores on the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (P = 0.039), in average (P = 0.002), highest (P = 0.029), lowest (P = 0.04), and current pain severity (P = 0.02) on the Visual Analogue Scale, but there was no change in pain quality by the McGill Pain Questionnaire. There were no significant changes in total and physical SF-36 scores, but the mental score improved significantly (P = 0.049). There were no changes in the Pain Disability Index or Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. These data present a potential, new, noninvasive means of treating pain in AD by whole body pneumatic compression as part of the CVAC process. Although randomized, controlled trials are needed to confirm these data, the CVAC process could potentially help in treating AD pain and other chronic pain disorders.
PubMed: 21197318
DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S12351 -
The Indian Medical Gazette Nov 1927
PubMed: 29010813
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and... Sep 2023Lower limb venous obstruction secondary to a lipoma is a rare occurrence. Patients with these benign soft tissue tumors can be asymptomatic, or may experience symptoms...
Lower limb venous obstruction secondary to a lipoma is a rare occurrence. Patients with these benign soft tissue tumors can be asymptomatic, or may experience symptoms of pain, parasthesia, paralysis and swelling secondary to compression on adjacent neurovascular structures. Duplex ultrasound examination is the first-line investigation, but has its limitations. We report on a case of venous obstruction syndrome misdiagnosed as chronic venous insufficiency on duplex ultrasound examination, from a deep-seated giant lipoma compressing on the common femoral and distal external iliac vein in a patient with Dercum's disease.
PubMed: 37662572
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101275 -
Cureus Nov 2023Dercum's disease is a rare and poorly understood condition characterized by painful subcutaneous adipose tissue growth that can occur anywhere beneath the skin surface....
Dercum's disease is a rare and poorly understood condition characterized by painful subcutaneous adipose tissue growth that can occur anywhere beneath the skin surface. We present the case of a 27-year-old man with no significant medical history who had been experiencing painful subcutaneous nodules for two years. Skin biopsy revealed the proliferation of mature adipocytes that were surrounded by fibrous septa. There are currently no treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for Dercum's disease, and the effectiveness of treatments that have been attempted is variable.
PubMed: 38084160
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48615 -
Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia 2019
Topics: Adiposis Dolorosa; Aged; Female; Humans; Lipectomy; Lipoma; Lower Extremity
PubMed: 31090842
DOI: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20198231 -
Annals of Clinical and Translational... Mar 2014Francis Xavier Dercum (1856-1931) is known primarily for his prominence in the field of neurology and for his identification of "Adiposis Dolorosa", known as Dercum's...
Francis Xavier Dercum (1856-1931) is known primarily for his prominence in the field of neurology and for his identification of "Adiposis Dolorosa", known as Dercum's disease. His brilliance, however, extends well beyond neurology. Born and raised in Philadelphia to parents of American and European descent, Dercum's natural curiosity oriented his interests toward medicine and philosophy. His scholarship flourished, and much recognition came his way. He died in Benjamin Franklin's Chair, closing what would be his last session as President of the American Philosophical Society. From anatomy, histology, pathology, and neurology to teaching, writing, and philosophy, Dercum's life was that of a man for all seasons.
PubMed: 25356401
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.36