[Mediastino-abdominal lipomatosis. Description of a case]

The authors describe a case of mediastino-abdominal lipomatosis. The patient, who is 70 years old, was kept under observation, because of her recent state of illness. This state of illness was initially interpreted as angor attacks and a left ventricular failure. Only after the results of a CT examination showing a characteristic disproportion between the endothoracic-endoabdominal adipose tissue and the subcutaneous tissue, a correct interpretation was given. As a result the patient's state of illness was attributed to a compression of the adipose tissue growth in the abdominal and thoracic cavity. The etiology of mediastino-abdominal lipomatosis is still unknown. Therapy consists in removing the lipomas surgically when they cause a compression of the trachea and the upper vena cava.