Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa of the Foot: A Case Report of MRI and Histologic Findings Including Pacinian Corpuscle Abnormalities

Edward J Southard; Andrew K Sands; David A Boyajian; Elizabeth Sieczka; Eli Bryk; Vincent J Vigorita

doi:10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00785

Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa of the Foot: A Case Report of MRI and Histologic Findings Including Pacinian Corpuscle Abnormalities

JBJS Case Connect. 2021 Jun 15;11(2). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00785.

Authors

Edward J Southard^{1

2}, Andrew K Sands^{1

2}, David A Boyajian^{1

2}, Elizabeth Sieczka^{1

2}, Eli Bryk^{1

2}, Vincent J Vigorita^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Radiology, New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, New York, New York.
² Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

PMID: 34129539
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00785

Abstract

Case: A 37-year-old man presented with pain and macrodactyly of a toe. Imaging and histology demonstrated findings consistent with macrodystrophia lipomatosa (MDL). We compared our findings with control tissue obtained from an identical site of a fresh-frozen cadaveric foot from the same anatomical site. Pacinian corpuscles (PCs) in the MDL tissue were increased in number, size, and shape compared with the control tissue and demonstrated edematous interstitial lamellae and vacuolar degenerative change. We also document the magnetic resonance imaging findings of the PCs.

Conclusion: Peculiar abnormalities of PCs in MDL underline nerve damage and may be a contributing factor in the pain associated with this unusual condition.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Fingers
Foot / diagnostic imaging
Humans
Lower Extremity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Pacinian Corpuscles*