Lipomatosis is believed to be an autosomal dominant condition in which multiple lipomas are present on the body.

Many discrete, encapsulated lipomas form on the trunk and extremities, with relatively few on the head and shoulders.

[1] In 1993, a genetic polymorphism within lipomas was localized to chromosome 12q15, where the HMGIC gene encodes the high-mobility-group protein isoform I-C.[2] This is one of the most commonly found mutations in solitary lipomatous tumors but lipomas often have multiple mutations.

[1] Other entities which are accompanied by multiple lipomas include Proteus syndrome, Cowden syndrome and related disorders due to PTEN gene mutations, benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung disease), Dercum's Disease, familial lipodystrophy, hibernomas, epidural steroid injections with epidural lipomatosis,[6] and familial angiolipomatosis.

[citation needed] word-forming element expressing state or condition, in medical terminology denoting "a state of disease," from Latin -osis and directly from Greek -osis, formed from the aorist of verbs ending in -o.