THE RARE occurrence and infrequent recognition of intestinal lipodystrophy as described by Whipple1 in 1907 appears to warrant report of a case diagnosed recently during laparotomy. The case reported by Whipple was characterized anatomically by deposits of fat and fatty acids in the intestinal and mesenteric lymphatic tissues. Clinically, the patient had recurring attacks of arthritis, emaciation. enlargement and tenderness of the abdomen and fatty diarrhea.
Since the original description of this disease, few reports have appeared in the literature.2 To date the total number represents about 24 cases. The last case appeared in the literature in 1949, as reported by Copland and others.2b Several other authors have used the following terminology for this entity: lipophagia granulomatosis, lymphadenocele, mesenteric chyle adenectasis and lymphadenectasis.
REPORT OF A CASE
A 53 year old white man was admitted to the hospital in January 1950 with the complaint of dull aching