Rare Case of Retroperitoneal Lipomatosis in an Indian Woman

Abstract

Retroperitoneal lipomatosis is a rare but distinct clinicopathological entity characterized by non encapsulated lipoma development in the retroperitoneum. Presenting complaints in the early stages are vague, and patients with retroperitoneal lipomatosis are often misdiagnosed because considerable abnormality is not detected by abdomino-pelvic sonography. However, because of the progressive nature of this lesion, most patients eventually present with varying degrees of urinary outflow obstruction and end stage renal disease, or bladder malignancies in few cases. Here we report a case of a 35-year-old Indian woman presenting with complaints of diffuse lumps in the abdomen and constipation. Based on the findings of the imaging [sonography and computed tomography (CT) scan] studies, benign retroperitoneal lipomatosis was preopreratively diagnosed and a confirmatory exploratory laprotomy was performed. Furthermore, we discuss the imaging findings obtained using various radiological modalities such as plain radiographs, intravenous urography, barium enema, sonography, CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also discuss the etiopathogenesis, demographics, and various differential diagnoses of retroperitoneal lipomatosis.