[Lipomatosis of the ileocecal valve (author's transl)].

The fatty tissue of the ileocecal valve was examined in 100 autopsies. Diffuse submucosal fatty tissue was found in a different amount among children, juveniles and adults in 93% of the cases. There was no correlation between the amount of the fatty tissue and obesity or intraabdominal adhesions. As fat deposit in the ileocecal valve already can be seen in the first years of life and as it is not depleted in malnutrition it should be considered as normal and an important factor for the structure and the function of the valve. Therefore the term lipomatosis, which refers to a pathological excess of fatty tissue, no longer should be used in connection with submucosal fat in the ileocecal valve.