Lipedema is a chronic disorder characterized by abnormal bilateral fat deposition in the extremities, predominantly affecting women and typically beginning at puberty. The trunk, hands, and feet are usually spared. Despite its relatively high prevalence, lipedema is frequently underrecognized in clinical practice and is often confused with conditions such as obesity, venous insufficiency, and lymphedema. Patients commonly present with pain, tenderness, and easy bruising.
Current imaging methods have demonstrated increased subcutaneous tissue thickness and fluid infiltration in lipedema; however, no imaging modality has yet been established as a definitive diagnostic tool. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a noninvasive ultrasound-based technique that enables quantitative assessment of tissue stiffness and may provide additional information regarding tissue structure and mechanical properties.
In this study, we aim to compare lower extremity subcutaneous tissue stiffness in patients with lipedema and healthy controls using SWE. As a secondary objective, we aim to evaluate abdominal subcutaneous tissue stiffness in patients with lipedema and compare these findings with both lower extremity measurements in the same patients and abdominal measurements in individuals without lipedema.