Madelung's disease, also known as multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare disease characterized by the presence of multiple, symmetric, loose adipose tissues distributed around the neck, shoulder, back or chest. MSL is different from simple obesity, which is characterized by the presence of well-distributed total body fat. It is rarely reported in Asia and most commonly seen among middle-aged men. Although the etiology of MSL is unknown, the disease is associated with alcoholism in 60% to 90% of patients. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the history, and clinical appearance. Also, imaging such as CT or MRI could confirm the diagnosis. Herein, we experienced an uncommon case of MSL in middle-aged women with alcoholism.
Adipose Tissue ; Alcoholism* ; Asia ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neck ; Obesity ; Rare Diseases ; Shoulder ; Thorax

Benign symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disease and may appear as a huge tumor in the neck. Four benign symmetric lipomatosis associated with gigantic painless mass or neck motion limitation were reported. Operative technique of one-time radical resection or stage resection was used to remove these tumors. One patient had a postoperative complication of incision effusion and infection, and three patients had no significant complication. At more than one-year follow-up, the motion and appearance of a patient's neck returned to normal, and no recurrence was observed. The etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease were discussed.
Humans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; Neck ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies* ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical*

Madelung's disease, or benign symmetric lipomatosis, is an uncommon disorder that is characterized by massive symmetrical deposits of adipose tissue in the upper trunk, neck and head, and is usually associated with alcohol abuse; as such, patients usually complain of cosmetic issues. Historically, Madelung's disease is usually encountered in men between 30 and 60 years of age, and is more prevalent in the Mediterranean population. In this case study, we describe a rare case of Madelung's disease, in an Asian patient who presented with symmetrically located bilateral masses in the anterior neck, which grew progressively larger over a period of seven years.
Adipose Tissue ; Alcoholism ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Head ; Humans ; Lipomatosis ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical* ; Male ; Neck

Benign symmetrical lipomatosis (BSL), or Madelung's disease, is a rare disease characterized by he progressive growth of diffuse, painless, non-enveloped symmetric lipomas at typical sites in the body. The etiology of this disease remains unknown. A disturbance of lipid metabolism is involved, and there is a proven connection with chronic alcoholism. Problems with the differential diagnosis of the characteristic clinical picture arise from the fact that this disease is not widely recognized. Surgical lipectomy in several sessions can relieve pressure and provide satisfactory patient functional recovery as well as cosmetic disfiguration.
Alcoholism ; complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

Humans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL), or Madelung's disease, is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the presence of loose adipose tissue deposits localized in the cervical region and upper body. MSL presenting as bilateral huge gynecomastia is an extremely rare phenomenon. The present report describes a case of MSL in a 66-year-old man. The patients presented with bilateral breast bulging. He had a history of cigarette and alcohol use. His condition was treated with a bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy. MSL can present as a form of gynecomastia, for its accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of MSL, increasing awareness of the clinical characteristics of the disease is required, especially amongst breast surgeons. Herein, we review the literature and discuss the clinical characteristics, pathology, and surgical treatment of MSL.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged ; Breast ; Diagnosis ; Gynecomastia* ; Humans ; Lipomatosis ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical* ; Male ; Mastectomy ; Pathology ; Rare Diseases ; Tobacco Products

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare disease characterized by symmetrical massive fatty deposits on the face, neck, shoulders, and upper trunk. We report a 74-year-old man who complained of painless subcutaneous nodules on his posterior neck that developed 3 weeks earlier. In a week, variably-sized similar lesions developed on both his shoulders and upper extremities. At the time of his hospital visit, several firm nodules as big as a walnut to a child's fist and with the normal-skin-hue were observed on his posterior neck, both shoulders, upper extremities, and trunk. The histological examination of his upper left arm revealed more mature adipocytes without encapsulation in the subcutaneous tissue. MSL was generally known to occur slowly over months or years. However, this is an unusual case that showed a fast-growing nature.
Adipocytes ; Aged ; Arm ; Humans ; Juglans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical* ; Neck ; Rare Diseases ; Shoulder ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Upper Extremity

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) is an infrequent disease of unknown etiology. The typical characteristic of the disease is bulging, symmetric masses of fat tissue on the neck, upper extremities, and upper parts of the trunk. The disease strongly affects middle-aged men, people from Mediterranean regions and with alcohol abuse history. We report three cases of middle to old age males with long-standing multi-lobulated bulging of the neck, which gradually enlarged over many years. Of peculiar interest is one patient who presented with snoring and apnea together with typical findings of Madelung's disease. The case had involvement of the hypopharynx, which was successfully managed with microscopic laryngeal surgery with CO2 laser. The authors elucidate three cases of Madelung's disease found in the pharynx and neck, and report a review of the literature.
Alcoholism ; Apnea ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Lasers, Gas ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical* ; Male ; Mediterranean Region ; Neck* ; Pharynx* ; Snoring ; Upper Extremity

Humans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged