The pathogenesis of tendolipomatosis; an electron microscopical study.

The development of tendolipomatosis has been studied both by light and scanning electron microscopy in the tendons of healthy persons killed in accidents. Lipid cells are rarely seen in the intact tendon. In the early stages of tendolipomatosis lipid cells are found deep and singly but in the later phases lipocytes are seen to disrupt the continuity of collagen fibres and tendon bundles and so reduce the strength of the tendon.