title: Pseudocyst formation after abdominoplasty--extravasations of Morel-Lavallée.
abstract: A soft tissue injury can lead to the formation of a pseudocyst in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, due to a seroma, haematoma or fat necrosis. These cysts were first described in 1853 by the French physician Morel-Lavallée. He observed the phenomenon in the lower limb in women after a tangential trauma with separation of the fatty layers. A similar condition can occur following surgery of the abdomen, when performing liposuction and subcutaneous dissection with a large dead space. In this report we present two cases with large pseudocysts in the abdominal wall, which were seen in long term follow-up after an abdominoplasty performed elsewhere. The pathogenesis, the treatment and the literature are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Zecha
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Missotten
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003560:Cysts / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged