Lipoma Arborescens - Eyes See What Mind Knows!

Lipoma arborescens is a rare lesion, benign in nature and was first described in detail in 1957. <200 cases have been reported in the literature by now. It consists of subsynovial villous proliferation of mature fat cells. Since the incidence of the condition is very rare, definite etiology has not established. Arthroscopic or open synovectomy has been the treatment of choice of the lesion.

We present you a case of lipomatosis arborescens of the right knee in a 28-year-old male. The magnetic resonance imaging images showed high signal intensity villous or nodular foci on both T1- and T2-weighted images which were indicative of fat globules. They were predominantly found in huge number in suprapatellar pouch. The patient underwent arthroscopic synovectomy showing numerous broad- based polypoid or thin papillary villi composed of fatty tissue. Approximately 40 cc of lobulated globules were removed, and some were sent to histopathology which confirmed the presence of benign synovial tissue and fragments of adipose tissue present beneath the synovial surface. On 1-year follow-up, the patient was free of pain and devoid of any mechanical symptoms.

Hence, we conclude that this is a rare entity that needs early intervention to prevent progressive joint degeneration and has excellent patient satisfaction with arthroscopic debridement with very low incidence of recurrence.