Figure 1. A microscopic section shows an exuberant villous proliferation (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×55).
Figure 2. Each villous section is lined by synovial cells with complete replacement of the subsynovial tissue by mature fat cells (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×140).
Figure 3. At higher magnification there is hyperplasia of the synovial cells forming small nodules beneath the synovial lining (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×280).
Villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovial membrane is a rare condition that usually occurs in the knee,1- 3 although it has been reported in other joints such as the wrist and ankle.4- 5 The disease has been reported to be developmental, traumatic, inflammatory, or neoplastic in origin4- 7 but its true cause remains unknown. This disorder is characterized by a slow painless swelling of the knee over many years with intermittent effusion. Laboratory test results, including erythrocyte sedementation rate and serological tests for rheumatoid factor and blood uric acids, are all normal. Joint aspiration is negative for crystals and cells and the cultures (aerobic, anerobic, and tubercular) are sterile. Pathologically, the condition is characterized by marked villous proliferation of the synovial membrane. There is mild hyperplasia of the synovial lining cells and complete replacement of the subsynovial tissue by mature fat cells that extend into the proliferative villous projections. Long-standing synovial thickening and effusions, which are probably caused by repeated mechanical injury to the proliferated villi, eventually lead to osteoarthritis. It has been reported in detail in 5 isolated case reports3- 4,6,8- 9 and in 1 series of 5 cases.10 The 5 cases of Hallel et al10 had a mean age of 56 years (age range, 39-66 years) and were all male. The duration of symptoms ranged from 5 to 25 years and the knee was the site of involvement for all. The severity of osteoarthritic changes in the knee correlated with the duration of the synovial disease. Synovectomy was done in all cases and 4 cases were followed up for 3, 8, 10, and 11 years. There was no recurrence of synovial thickening or effusion.
The differential diagnosis for villous synovial lipomatosis should encompass all conditions that cause painless effusion and synovial thickening without systemic involvement. These are synovial chondromatosis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, and synovial hemangiomatosis. The microscopic and macroscopic findings of these conditions are typical and, together with the clinical characteristics, should facilitate an accurate diagnosis.
This condition has been reported as lipoma arborescens; however, this term is misleading because lipoma implies a tumorous etiology. Hallel et al10 in their 5 cases have used the term villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovial membrane. We suggest synovial lipomatosis for this rare condition.
Accepted for publication August 24, 1998.
Reprints: R. K. Vasishta, MD, MRCPath, Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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