Benign symmetric lipomatosis

Benign symmetric lipomatosis
Other namesBenign symmetric lipomatosis of Launois–Bensaude; Madelung's disease; multiple symmetric lipomatosis; cephalothoracic lipodystrophy; symmetrical adenolipomatosis; fat neck (Fetthals)
A young man with benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) of unknown cause exhibiting Madelung's collar and buffalo hump
SpecialtyDermatology, endocrinology
Usual onsetAdult-onset

Benign symmetric lipomatosis, also known as Madelung's disease, is an adult-onset skin condition characterized by extensive symmetric fat deposits in the head, neck, and shoulder girdle area.[1] The symmetrical fat deposits are made of unencapsulated lipomas, which distinguishes it from typical lipomatosis which has encapsulated lipomas that are not usually symmetrical.[2] Benjamin Brodie described the condition in 1846. The German surgeon Otto Wilhelm Madelung was the first to give a detailed description of the disorder in 1888, followed by Launois and Bensaude in 1898.[3]

This condition is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 25,000 in Italy.[3][4] Older research found that it affects males up to 15 - 30 times more frequently than females;[3][4] however, more recent studies have found a higher prevalence among women than men (1:2.5) and so further epidemiological studies are needed.[4] It predominantly affects those of the Mediterranean and European populations, although rare cases have been documented outside of those populations[5] (such as Ethiopian,[6] Chinese,[7] Mexican-American,[8] Indian,[2] African-American,[9] and African-Indian[10]).

Large fat deposits around the neck, and more rarely in the tongue, may negatively affect breathing, swallowing, and speaking.[11][12] Orbital involvement is very rare, with proptosis (bulging of the eye) and persistent bilateral lumps on the eyelids.[13][14]

Comorbidities frequently involve the endocrine systems, with hypercholesterinemia and hypothyroidism being the most common.[13][4] Other comorbidities include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gout.[5][4] In individuals with alcohol use disorder, there is also alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.[5][4] There have also been reports of peripheral neuropathy, ragged red fibres in muscle cells (suggesting mitochondrial myopathy), sudden cardiac death, and neurological involvement, although it is unknown whether these are due to prolonged alcohol use disorder as such symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction also appear in alcoholics without Madelung's disease.[5][4][15][16] However, rarely, instances of mitochondrial dysfunction (high lactate/low pyruvate, polyneuropathy, decreased cytochrome c oxidase and abnormal mitochondria) have been documented in non-alcoholics with Madelung's disease.[2][15][16]

Cosmetic disfigurement due to the fat deposition in the cervicothoracic region results in a "pseudoathletic appearance," resembling the Italian statue Warrior of Capestrano and carvings of Queen of Punt (Egypt).[10][17] The fat deposited around the front of the neck is known as Madelung's collar or horse collar.[13][5] Fat deposited on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades is known as a dorsocervical fat pad or buffalo hump.[13][18] Fat deposited in the parotid region is known as hamster cheeks.[10]

  1. ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
  2. ^ a b c Suresh Chandran, C. J.; Godge, Y. R.; Oak, P. J.; Ravat, S. H. (April 2009). "Madelung's disease with myopathy". Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. 12 (2): 131–132. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.53086. ISSN 1998-3549. PMC 2812741. PMID 20142863.
  3. ^ a b c González-García R, Rodríguez-Campo FJ, Sastre-Pérez J, Muñoz-Guerra MF (2004). "Benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease): case reports and current management". Aesthetic Plast Surg. 28 (2): 108–12, discussion 113. doi:10.1007/s00266-004-3123-5. PMID 15164232. S2CID 45300059.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Schiltz, Daniel; Anker, Alexandra; Ortner, Christine; Tschernitz, Sebastian; Koller, Michael; Klein, Silvan; Felthaus, Oliver; Schreml, Julia; Schreml, Stephan; Prantl, Lukas (April 2018). "Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis: New Classification System Based on the Largest German Patient Cohort". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Global Open. 6 (4): e1722. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001722. ISSN 2169-7574. PMC 5977945. PMID 29876171.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Madelung's Disease". NORD (National Organization of Rare Disorders).
  6. ^ Zewde, Yared Zenebe (2021-07-03). "Madelung's disease in a non-alcoholic Ethiopian male patient mistaken for obesity: a case report". BMC Endocrine Disorders. 21 (1): 142. doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00803-9. ISSN 1472-6823. PMC 8254943. PMID 34217263.
  7. ^ Wanke, Jin; Yongjing, Fan (February 2022). "A case report of Madelung's disease in China". Radiology Case Reports. 17 (2): 320–325. doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2021.10.035. ISSN 1930-0433. PMC 8633830. PMID 34876958.
  8. ^ "Madelung's Disease with polyneuropathy in a non-alcoholic Mexican-American male". www.oatext.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  9. ^ Sarhill, N.; Kumar, Ajay; Cook, L.; Tahir, A.; Barakat, K. (2006). "Madelung's Disease in an African-American Patient". S2CID 78759779. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ a b c Medappil Noushif; Vasu TA (July 2010). "Madelung's disease: A spot diagnosis". Indian J Plast Surg. 43 (2): 227–8. doi:10.4103/0970-0358.73472. PMC 3010793. PMID 21217991.
  11. ^ Louza, Guilherme Felix; Zanetti, Gláucia; Marchiori, Edson (August 2022). "Madelung's Disease: A Rare Cause of Dyspnea". Archivos de Bronconeumologia. 58 (8): 612. doi:10.1016/j.arbres.2021.09.015. ISSN 1579-2129. PMID 35312558. S2CID 241472327.
  12. ^ Lopez-Ceres, Ana; Aguilar-Lizarralde, Yolanda; Villalobos Sánchez, Aurora; Prieto Sánchez, Elisa; Valiente Alvarez, Antonio (December 2006). "Benign symmetric lipomatosis of the tongue in Madelung's disease". Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. 34 (8): 489–493. doi:10.1016/j.jcms.2006.06.003. ISSN 1010-5182. PMID 17157517.
  13. ^ a b c d Şükün, Abdullah; Demirci, Mehmet Fatih; Akbay, Ertan (June 2023). "Type 1C Multiple Symmetrical Lipomatosis: A Cause of Misdiagnosis in Females". Cureus. 15 (6): e40970. doi:10.7759/cureus.40970. ISSN 2168-8184. PMC 10370365. PMID 37503462.
  14. ^ Lumyongsatien, Mingkwan; Selva, Dinesh (April 2022). "Bilateral symmetric lipomatosis of the orbit in Madelung's disease". Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 41 (2): 268–270. doi:10.1080/01676830.2020.1852261. ISSN 1744-5108. PMID 33243058. S2CID 227182356.
  15. ^ a b Klopstock, T.; Naumann, M.; Schalke, B.; Bischof, F.; Seibel, P.; Kottlors, M.; Eckert, P.; Reiners, K.; Toyka, K. V.; Reichmann, H. (May 1994). "Multiple symmetric lipomatosis: abnormalities in complex IV and multiple deletions in mitochondrial DNA". Neurology. 44 (5): 862–866. doi:10.1212/wnl.44.5.862. ISSN 0028-3878. PMID 8190288. S2CID 2474345.
  16. ^ a b Naumann, M.; Schalke, B.; Klopstock, T.; Reichmann, H.; Lange, K. W.; Wiesbeck, G.; Toyka, K. V.; Reiners, K. (July 1995). "Neurological multisystem manifestation in multiple symmetric lipomatosis: a clinical and electrophysiological study". Muscle & Nerve. 18 (7): 693–698. doi:10.1002/mus.880180704. ISSN 0148-639X. PMID 7783758. S2CID 27498996.
  17. ^ Miraglia, E.; Moliterni, E.; Iacovino, C.; Chello, C.; Laghi, A.; Giustini, S. (2021-05-05). "Madelung's disease. Two case reports with pseudoathletic appearance". La Clinica Terapeutica. 172 (3): 190–192. doi:10.7417/CT.2021.2311. ISSN 1972-6007. PMID 33956034.
  18. ^ Liu, S -Z; Zhou, X; Wang, Y -P; Liu, Y; Song, A (2019-06-26). "The Madelung's disease and the buffalo hump sign". QJM: An International Journal of Medicine. 113 (3): 219. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcz160. ISSN 1460-2725. PMID 31250017.