Madelung’s disease: case series and literature review

Madelung’s disease also called benign symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disorder of unknown etiology. The disease affects almost exclusively middle-aged men with a history of multi-year alcohol abuse. The major symptom is presence of non-encapsulated benign fat masses, especially in the area of the head and neck. Limited head and neck movement, dysphagia, and dyspnea may appear as well.

The diagnosis is clinical and is supported by imaging methods, often elevated hepatic enzymes in blood serum, and histological examination with finding of mature adipose tissue without signs of proliferation. Therapeutic methods involve liposuction or excision which is a method of choice nowadays.

In this article the authors review current knowledge, research state, and present five cases of the Madelung’s disease occurring within the last 10 years at the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Martin, Slovakia.