[Lipohyperplasia or intestinal lipomatosis]

Abstract

Lipohyperplasia or intestinal lipomatosis is an infrequent disease characterised by anomalous infiltration of adipose tissue in the intestinal submucosa. Localised forms are generally asymptomatic, whereas diffuse forms may lead to intestinal subocclusion, digestive hemorrhage or diarrhoea. Although benign, the differential diagnosis of intestinal lipomatosis with malignant pathologies of the colon or appendix often prompts the need for surgical exploration and the histological analysis of biopsy material. Surgical exeresis of the lesion is generally associated with the normalisation of clinical symptoms. The authors report the onset and clinical evolution of two cases of intestinal lipomatosis referred to their attention.