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Derkum's disease: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Dercum disease (painful lipomatosis) is more common in women aged 40 to 50 years. It is manifested by painful fatty deposits in the subcutaneous tissue in the form of lipomatous nodes of various sizes. The skin over the lipomatous nodes is often reddened. The nodes are very painful. Their localization is usually asymmetrical, the mobility is good. Affected different parts of the body, much less often the face. Women often have amenorrhea, men have impotence. The disease is accompanied by significant neuropathic manifestations, often a hysterical or asthenic plan. Complaints of a psychotic nature are possible.
Differential diagnosis should be performed with Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. Lipomas in Dercum's disease are less dense, larger in size, and not located along the nerves.
Treatment of Dercum's Disease
It is necessary to use complex therapy, used for cerebral obesity of mixed form. Sometimes surgical intervention is necessary with excision of the most interfering with the movement of the lime.