[Benign symmetrical lipomatosis in women. Association with alcoholic hepatopathy]

Benign symmetric lipomatosis or Launois-Bensaude syndrome is a condition characterized by diffuse, unencapsulated, painless growth of lipomatous tissue with a peculiar symmetric topology occurring predominantly in middle-aged men. In the present study a short survey of the clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, current pathophysiologic theories, and therapy of this disease is given. From the literature published since 1950 112 observations are reviewed with respect to alcohol abuse in the premorbid period and other coexisting illnesses. Of the patients 70% were heavy drinkers and in over 45% significant liver damage was present. In addition, two rare cases of benign symmetric lipomatosis in women, aged 42 and 49 years, respectively, are presented. Both were alcoholics with hepatic sequelae. The possible existence of a female morphological subtype of benign symmetric lipomatosis is ventilated and its identity with Touraine-Renault's segmental lipomatosis of the trunk suspected.