[Diagnosis and treatment of Madelung's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To review the characteristics of Madelung's disease which is rare and unfamiliar to clinicians and to find the method of diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
Detailed clinical data of 7 patients with Madelung's disease were reviewed and analyzed. And related literatures were discussed together.


RESULTS
All of 7 patients have excessive subcutaneous fat deposit predominantly around neck. One patients had the complication of central and peripheral neuropathy, One patients had the complication of glucose intolerance, One patients had the complication of chronic hepatopathy and hyperuricaemia. These 3 patients were associated with sleep apnea syndrome simultaneously. Another one patient was accompanied by autonomic nervous system disease only. Total neck lipectomy and abstinence from alcohol were performed on 5 patients. No recurrence was seen during a follow-up of 6 months to 5 years. One patient received partial lipectomy twice and relapsed again. All pathological results were nonencapsulated fat. One patient refused treatment. Six men patients were alcohol abusers.


CONCLUSIONS
Madelung's disease is characterized by massive accumulation of nonencapsulated subcutaneous fat mainly located symmetrically in the neck. Chronic alcoholism may be a major risk factor. It may be associated with some internal diseases. Total neck lipectomy to improve figuration and relieve pressure and abstinence from alcohol may be the main effective therapy.
Chen
Xing-Min
XM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Li
Wu-Yi
WY
Ni
Dao-Feng
DF
Wei
Bo-Jun
BJ
Xu
Chun-Xiao
CX
Gao
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
He
Lin
L
Chen
Yong-Ning
YN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008069:Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000601:surgery