Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.
2014 Dec;57(12):865-869. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2014.57.12.865.
Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis (Madelung's Disease) of the Neck and Pharynx
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea. safar@snubh.org
- KMID: 1802434
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2014.57.12.865
Abstract
- Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) is an infrequent disease of unknown etiology. The typical characteristic of the disease is bulging, symmetric masses of fat tissue on the neck, upper extremities, and upper parts of the trunk. The disease strongly affects middle-aged men, people from Mediterranean regions and with alcohol abuse history. We report three cases of middle to old age males with long-standing multi-lobulated bulging of the neck, which gradually enlarged over many years. Of peculiar interest is one patient who presented with snoring and apnea together with typical findings of Madelung's disease. The case had involvement of the hypopharynx, which was successfully managed with microscopic laryngeal surgery with CO2 laser. The authors elucidate three cases of Madelung's disease found in the pharynx and neck, and report a review of the literature.
