Diagnostic and surgical challenges of progressive neck and upper back painless masses in Madelung’s disease: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Madelung’s disease (MD) is a chronic alcoholism-associated metabolic syndrome characterized by symmetrical subcutaneous deposition of adipose tissue in the head, neck, shoulders, back, trunk, and nerve roots of the upper and lower limbs. It is relatively rare in Asian individuals and is prone to misdiagnosis. Herein, we report a case of a patient with MD who had undergone surgical management at our hospital, and we discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of MD.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a case of MD in a 65-year-old man of Han descent. The patient had multiple, painless progressive masses for more than five years in the neck and more than 30 years in the upper back. Because of neck mobility limitations and progressive cosmetic deformities caused by the masses, he was admitted to our hospital. He drank approximately 500 mL of liquor per day and smoked heavily for more than 30 years. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck and chest documented abundant unencapsulated, subcutaneous fatty deposits. We prepared a staged operation plan. The patient was diagnosed with MD; he was advised to abstain from alcohol and was followed up regularly. After a 3-month follow-up, no recurrence of fat accumulation was found in the surgical areas.

CONCLUSION

This report presents a case of surgical treatment for MD to improve clinicians' understanding of the disease.

Multiple symmetric and multiple familial lipomatosis

Lipomas are the most common soft tissue tumors and are malignant in only 1% of cases. Lipomatosis is defined as the presence of multiple benign lipomas on the body, without lipoatrophy. Their impact on quality of life is significant. Different entities have been described such as symmetrical multiple lipomatosis (MSL), also called Madelung's disease and familial multiple lipomatosis (FML). MSL occurs preferentially in men (but also women) who are alcohol abuser. There are different subtypes of the disease, the most classic of which affects the upper body and the nuchal region with a buffalo hump appearance. A metabolic component with obesity is frequent. In contrast to Dercum's disease, there is no pain. SAOS, complications of the metabolic syndrome and of alcohol abuse including cancers, may be associated and should be screened. FML has been little described in the literature since Brodie's first report in 1846. FML occurs preferentially in the third decade but equally in women and men. Its autosomal dominant component is classically accepted with variable penetrance within the same family. Association with naevi, angiomas, polyneuropathies and with gastrointestinal comorbidities has been reported. Interestingly, and in contrast with most lipodystrophy disorders, the patients show an insulin sensitivity profile. A better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms would open up avenues on therapeutic research, since treatments are only symptomatic to date.

Madelung's disease with alcoholic liver disease and acute kidney injury: A case report

BACKGROUND

Madelung's disease (MD) is a rare disorder of lipid metabolism, characterized by the growth of unencapsulated masses of adipose tissue symmetrically deposited around the neck, shoulders, or other sites around the body. Its pathological mechanism is not yet known. One of the most common comorbidities in MD patients is liver disease, especially chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD); however, no reports exist of acute kidney injury (AKI) with MD.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a 60-year-old man who presented with complaint of edema in the lower limbs that had persisted for 3 d. Physical examination showed subcutaneous masses around the neck, and history-taking revealed the masses to have been present for 2 years and long-term heavy drinking. Considering the clinical symptoms, along with various laboratory test results and imaging characteristics, a diagnosis was made of MD with acute exacerbation of CALD and AKI. The patient was treated with liver function protection and traditional Chinese medicine, without surgical intervention. He was advised to quit drinking. After 10 d, the edema had subsided, renal function indicators returned to normal, liver function significantly improved, and size of subcutaneous masses remained stable.

CONCLUSION

In MD, concomitant liver or kidney complications are possible and monitoring of liver and kidney functions can be beneficial.

Madelung Disease Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics: a Systemic Review

BACKGROUND

Madelung disease is a rare lipid metabolic disorder, and most cases are sporadically reported. There are currently no systematic reviews summarizing the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of this disease. The purpose of the current article is to extract and analyze the existing evidence concerning Madelung disease derived from case series in order to provide adequate treatments for patients based on a more comprehensive understanding of the disease.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were queried for relevant articles using the search terms "Madelung disease," "multiple symmetric lipomatosis," "Launois-Bensaude syndrome" and synonyms until Aug 31,2020. Data statistics of Madelung disease epidemiology and clinical characteristics are summarized in different tables or charts with Microsoft Office software.

RESULTS

Patients exhibiting Madelung disease were mostly located in Europe, although some records existed in Asia as well. Average patient age was between 45 and 65 years old. Type I was the most common form of the disease, and the neck was the most common location for tumors. Madelung disease is associated with various metabolic disorders, and hematoma and seroma were the most common complications. Overall recurrence rate was 18.3%, with similar recurrence rates after lipectomy and liposuction. Fewer complications occurred after liposuction compared with lipectomy, but relapse was more common after liposuction.

CONCLUSION

Madelung disease consists of specific epidemiological and clinical characteristics, knowledge of which can be helpful for diagnosis and cognition. Lipectomy and liposuction are considered to be the most effective treatment methods for Madelung disease; however, choice of surgery should be based on comprehensive consideration of the disease, such as severity, mass location, and patient expectations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A non-alcohol-related case of Madelung's disease: Challenging patient with progressive jugular vein distension

Madelung's disease or multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare benign disease characterized by abnormal, multiple and symmetric fat depositions in the subcutaneous layer, involving head, neck, back, trunk and also upper and lower limbs. MSL may be related to alcohol abuse or metabolic disorders; it may be both silent or clinically manifest. We describe a case of a 48-yo man with β-thalassemia admitted to medicine department for neck swelling without fever or respiratory symptoms. Patient denied a history of alcoholism and laboratory exam excluded metabolic disorders. Doppler ultrasound, contrast Enhanced-CT and Magnetic Resonance Imaging exams of the neck showed a symmetric, non-encapsulated fat deposition causing extrinsic compression of the right jugular vein without thrombosis. Once excluded the possibility of malignancy, patient's history, clinical, and radiological findings suggest the diagnosis of non-alcohol-related MSL disease. Knowing MSL imaging findings and its degree is crucial to guide towards the right management. Our patient did not require surgical treatment and an US follow-up is needed in order to detect any possible evolution.

Self-initiated lifestyle interventions lead to potential insight into an effective, alternative, non-surgical therapy for mitochondrial disease associated multiple symmetric lipomatosis

BACKGROUND

A 56-year-old female, diagnosed as a carrier of the mitochondrial DNA mutation (MTTK c.8344A > G) associated with the MERRF (myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers) syndrome, presented with a relatively uncommon but well-known phenotypic manifestation: severe multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL). After surgical resection of three kilograms of upper mid-back lipomatous tissue, the patient experienced a significant decline in her functional capacity and quality of life, which ultimately resulted in her placement on long-term disability.

METHODS

Dissatisfied with the available treatment options centered on additional resection surgeries, given the high probability of lipoma regrowth, the patient independently researched and applied alternative therapies that centred on a carbohydrate-restricted diet and a supervised exercise program.

RESULTS

The cumulative effect of her lifestyle interventions resulted in the reversal of her MSL and her previously low quality of life. She met all her personal goals by the one-year mark, including reduced size of the residual post-surgical lipomas, markedly enhanced exercise tolerance, and return to work. She continues to maintain her interventions and to experience positive outcomes at the two-year mark.

INTERPRETATION

This case report documents the timing and nature of lifestyle interventions in relation to the reversal in growth pattern of her previously expanding and debilitating lipomas. The profound nature of the apparent benefit on lipoma growth demonstrates the intervention's potential as a new feasible non-surgical therapy for mitochondrial-disease-associated MSL, and justifies its systematic study. We also describe how this case has inspired the care team to re-examine its approach to involved patients.

Madelung's Disease Leading to Presenile Dementia in a Non-alcoholic Patient

Introduction

Madelung's disease (MD) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology defined as the presence of multiple and symmetrical fatty accumulations most commonly involving the upper trunk, neck, and head. Excessive alcohol ingestion has been linked traditionally to the pathogenesis of the disease. The central and peripheral nervous system could both be affected. Presenile dementia, without alcohol abuse, has been rarely reported in the literature as a complication.

Aim

The aim of this case report is to highlight that multiple symmetric lipomatosis can be complicated by presenile dementia even if the patient is non-alcoholic.

Case Report

This case report describes a middle age non-alcoholic woman who presented for increased forgetfulness. Brain CT scan showed cerebral and cerebellar atrophy inappropriate for her age. Despite being started on anticholinergic drug, her MMSE decreased 3 points in 1 year.

Conclusion

Clinicians should consider early onset dementia as a potential complication of Madelung's disease even in patients with no preceding history of alcoholism. A brain MRI and MMSE can aid with identifying such a complication.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells from affected and unaffected areas in patients with multiple symmetric lipomatosis show differential regulation of mTOR pathway genes

BACKGROUND

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disease characterized by the excessive growth of uncapsulated masses of adipose tissue. Although the etiology has yet to be elucidated, a connection to brown adipose tissue has been proposed recently. The mTOR pathway which is found to be regulated in lipomatous tissue as well as associated with brown adipose tissue can be inhibited by a compound called rapamycin.

METHODS

We isolated adipose tissue derived stem cells from both affected and unaffected tissue and treated these cells with different concentrations of rapamycin.

RESULTS

The differences in both proliferation and differentiation between adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) from lipomatous and normal tissue decreased after mTOR pathway inhibition. In some patients regulation of mTOR genes was opposed in the ASCs from the two different tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with rapamycin might be a novel therapeutical approach for patients suffering from multiple symmetric lipomatosis.

Madelung's Disease: Revision of 59 Surgical Cases

BACKGROUND

Madelung's disease (MD) is a rare disease, more common in Mediterranean countries and associated with alcohol abuse. However, MD etiology remains not completely understood.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical features, treatment options and outcomes in patients with MD treated in our plastic surgery department.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 59 cases of MD operated on between 2004 and 2013. Demographic information, location of the deposits, associated pathology and habits, number and type of surgeries performed, surgical complications and disease evolution were analyzed.

RESULTS

Ninety percent of the patients were males. Active or past history of alcohol abuse was reported by 86%. The main affected areas were anterior and posterior neck. A total of 230 surgical procedures were performed. Open surgery was used on 192 occasions (83.5%), liposuction alone on 30 procedures (13%) and lipectomy combined with liposuction on 8 interventions (3.5%). Surgical complications were found in 41 procedures (17.8%). Twenty-three patients (39%) were identified as having disease recurrence of the operated site in a mean time of 3.8 years. Alcohol consumption was not clearly associated with disease recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Demographic characteristics of the studied cohort stand for published data. It is our opinion that lipectomy/dermolipectomy provides better aesthetic and functional results. Lipectomy procedures allow a thorough excision, correct identification of noble structures and careful hemostasis. Liposuction techniques, even ultrasound-assisted ones, had limited efficacy for the treatment of large masses. A long follow-up period is recommended considering the high propensity and mean time to recurrence.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis and gynecomastia: A case report and relative literature review

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disease characterized by a symmetrical accumulation of massive adipose tissue on the neck, the superior part of the trunk, and limbs. Here, we reported an extremely rare case of multiple symmetric lipomatosis in a 46-year-old Chinese man, who has a history of heavy drinking and smoking and presented with diffuse lipomatosis and bilateral breast enlargement. Hyperuricemia and impaired glucose tolerance test were all found in this patient. A brief review of the literature was also made in this article.

Symmetrical lipomatosis of the tongue: Case report and literature review

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis is rare and characterized by diffuse growth and nonencapsulated lipomas. It is usually found in the posterior neck and upper trunk, and the entity is known as "benign symmetric lipomatosis," "Madelung disease," and "Launois-Bensaude syndrome." Symmetric lipomatosis of the tongue was first described by Desmond and is an extremely rare condition. A 74-year-old man complained of painless tongue swelling and difficulty speaking. Clinical findings revealed no tumor masses on the trunk, limbs, or head and neck region. Intraoral findings included soft yellowish masses with a smooth surface without erosions on the side of the tongue bilaterally. They were 30 mm in diameter. An incisional biopsy was taken from the mass, and the lipoma was diagnosed. The bilateral tongue lesions were resected under general anesthesia. Intraoperative findings revealed adipose tissues interspersed with lingual muscles and no capsulation. The lesion was finally diagnosed as symmetric lipomatosis of the tongue based on clinical findings and radiological and histologic examination.