Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis: Report of eight cases

INTRODUCTION Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis (NLCS) is a rare benign hamartomatous skin tumor characterized by dermal deposition of mature adipose tissue. It's classified in two types: the classical form with multiple soft, pedunculated, cerebriform papules and nodules that coalesce into plaques, and the solitary form that consists of a solitary papule or nodule. In this study, eight cases of NLCS are reported. METHODS The study was a retrospective case series including all patients with histopathologically documented NLCS who attended the Dermatology Department of Charles Nicolle hospital between January 1997 and December 2010. The objective of our study was to determine the epidemioclinical characteristics, the histopathologic features, and the treatment of this hamartoma. Patients included three males and five females aged between 7 and 41 years. RESULTS In four cases hamartoma was present since childhood, and in the other four cases it appeared in the third and fourth decades. Classical form was noted in seven cases and the solitary form in one case. Lesions involved limbs in four patients and trunk in four patients. Seven patients underwent surgical excision, and for one case no treatment was proposed. CONCLUSION The multiple or classical form is largely predominant in our study. Habitually, NLCS has an asymptomatic course. Treatment is usually not necessary unless for cosmetic reasons; surgical excision is curative and recurrence after is rare.