Lipoma arborescens associated with osseous/chondroid differentiation in subdeltoid bursa

Abstract

Lipoma arborescens (LA) is a rare benign lesion of unknown etiology. It is characterized histologically by villous proliferation of the synovial membrane and diffuse replacement of the subsynovial tissue by mature fat cells. This condition affects the knee joint most commonly. Cases involving other locations including glenohumeral joint,[1] hip,[2] elbow,[3] hand[4] and ankle[5] have been rarely described. Involvement of the subdeltoid bursa has also been reported, but to date no case has described LA with osseous/chondroid differentiation of this bursa. Another significant finding in our case was the coexistence of LA with intermuscular lipoma, SLAP lesion and labral cyst.