[Lipomatosis dolorosa--a frequently overlooked disease picture]

Dercum's disease (lipomatosis dolorosa) is a relatively unknown illness. The disorder usually affects middle-aged females. Subcutaneous fatty tissue deposits may occur in many parts of the body. The upper arms, elbows, stomach wall, buttocks, thighs, or knees are most commonly affected. Severe hyperalgesia is found on light pressure and touch. Analgesics or pain-modulating drugs usually have little or no effect. The following case report demonstrates successful symptomatic treatment of the otherwise nearly unbearable complaints: intravenous infusions of 5 mg/kg body weight of lidocaine over 30-90 min may give pain relief lasting several weeks or even months. Alternatively, patients are treated with 150-750 mg orally administered mexiletine daily. Surgical excision or liposuction of these fatty tissue deposits have shown significant reduction of pain. However, this effect reduces over time and recurrences often develop.