Madelung’s disease is a rare disorder described for the first time in the year 1846 by Brodie. It is characterized by the occurrence of progressive, excessive, and symmetrical deposits of adipose tissue in the subcutaneous layer. Most often, these changes concern the neck, the nape of the neck, arms, and upper back, giving the patients a specific, pseudoathletic appearance. Madelung’s disease is also known as multiple symmetrical lipomatosis, benign symmetrical lipomatosis, and Launois-Bensaude syndrome. The most commonly affected ones are men who drink alcohol in excessive amounts. The fat masses emerging in the course of the disease are painless but can lead to adverse repercussions. Patients may experience dysphagia, dysphonia, difficulty in breathing, and limited mobility of the neck. The reasons for the willingness to take up treatment are also often esthetic reasons. The disease is usually accompanied by numerous metabolic disorders. The etiology of the disease has not been sufficiently explained so far, which creates diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Currently used treatment is limited to surgical resection of the resulting lesions or liposuction. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these activities is limited. Most patients experience recurrence after treatment. This paper discusses the essence of Madelung’s disease, numerous aspects of etiology, the manner of diagnosis, and treatment based on current literature data.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.