Lipoatrophia semicircularis

Lipoatrophia semicircularis
Other names	Semicircular lipoatrophy [1]
Lipoathrofia semicircularis caused by armrest edge
Specialty	Dermatology

Lipoatrophia semicircularis, also known as semicircular lipoatrophy, ^[1] is a medical condition in humans, commonly known as ribbed thighs.

It consists of a semicircular zone of atrophy of the subcutaneous fatty tissue located mostly on the front of the thighs. Skin and underlying muscles remains intact.

Semicircular lipoatrophy mainly affects office workers. The ribs in the thighs are typically between 2 and 4 cm high and are typically located at about 72 cm above the ground, which is the standard height of office furniture.

Cause

It is not yet clear what exactly causes semicircular lipoatrophy. Some hypotheses are that it is caused by localized pressure, ^{[2] [3]} by blood circulation problems, ^[4] or by electromagnetic fields. ^[5]

See also

• Lipodystrophy
• List of cutaneous conditions

References

1. Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN   978-1-4160-2999-1.
2. Hodak E, David M, Sandbank M (1990). "Semicircular lipoatrophy--a pressure-induced lipoatrophy?". Clin. Exp. Dermatol. 15 (6): 464–5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2230.1990.tb02147.x. PMID   2279347. S2CID   39905400.
3. Gómez-Espejo C, Pérez-Bernal A, Camacho-Martínez F (2005). "A new case of semicircular lipoatrophy associated with repeated external microtraumas and review of the literature". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 19 (4): 459–61. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2005.01092.x. PMID   15987293. S2CID   46065748.
4. Verschaeve, Luc; Maes, A. (2009). "Support for the hypothesis that electro-stimulation is responsible for Lipoatrophia semicircularis". Medical Hypotheses. 73 (5): 802–806. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.058. ISSN   1532-2777. PMID   19577378.
5. Flagothier C, Quatresooz P, Pierard GE (2006). "Electromagnetic lipolysis and semicircular lipoatrophy of the thighs". Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie (in French). 133 (6–7): 577–80. doi:10.1016/S0151-9638(06)70967-X. PMID   16885849.