Madelung’s disease is one of the lipomatoses.
Madelung’s disease is a very rare symmetrical fat distribution disorder that occurs predominantly in men (androtropic) and belongs to the group of lipomatosis. It usually occurs in the upper half of the body and is therefore also known as multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (MSL).
Causes:
No cause has yet been identified for Madelung’s disease. A certain accumulation can be found in alcoholics. However, this does not mean that people with lipomatosis are alcoholics! The disease occurs more frequently in conjunction with liver dysfunction, lipometabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus.
Localization:
Picture: Lipomatosis with moderate bull neck / buffalo neck.
Madelung’s symmetrical lipomatosis is characterized by extreme accumulations of fat in the following regions:
- The neck is referred to as a buffalo neck or bull neck if it is very pronounced.
- Neck – This is where the term Madelung fat neck comes from.
- Shoulder girdle
- Upper arms
- Back
- Chest area
- Rarely does lipomatosis occur in the area of the mons pubis and thighs.
What complaints can occur?
Real symptoms only occur very rarely in the context of lipomatosis. These include breathing difficulties, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Patients generally go to the doctor because of the enormous psychological stress caused by the deformation. Some sufferers try to reduce the fatty tissue by losing a lot of weight. The physique can appear athletic (pseudo-athletic), with a slim abdominal-pelvic area with fat deposits in the shoulder region and upper back. This is particularly distressing for women suffering from lipomatosis.
What should be considered after Madelung’s disease surgery?
Depending on the extent of the Madelung’s disease and the operation, strict compression should be applied after the operation using corsetry or appropriate bandages. The drains should be left in place a little longer than is usual with conventional surgery. A certain degree of immobilization after lipomatosis surgery is also important so that shear forces do not promote the production of wound fluid or provoke bleeding.
