Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Liposuction in Benign Symmetric Lipomatosis, Sense or Senseless?

  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Benign symmetric lipomatosis is a rare form of typical fat distribution in the shoulders, the arms, and the neck that can compromise the respiratory, nutritional, and psychological status of the patient. Alcoholism, malignant tumors of the upper airways, endocrine tumors, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia are often associated with its occurrence. Surgical removal via lipectomy or liposuction can give good cosmetic results, although recurrences often occur. Liposuction has become the first choice to treat this disorder in patients with smaller masses. We have operated on four such cases in which liposuction failed and surgical excision had to be performed. We present a summary of the clinical characteristics of all four patients and discuss the different treatment options.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. LC Argenta KD McClatchey WJ Ferrell MH Newman (1981) ArticleTitleBenign symmetrical lipomatosis (Madelung’s disease). Head Neck Surg 3 240 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6C3MnmsVU%3D Occurrence Handle7461982

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. C Carlin Marie JL Ratz (1988) ArticleTitleMultiple symmetric lipomatosis: Treatment with liposuction. J Am Acad Dermatol 18 359 Occurrence Handle3346417

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. A Faga LA Valdatta A Thione M Buoro (2001) ArticleTitleUltrasound assisted liposuction for the palliative treatment of Madelung’s disease: A case report. Aesthet Plast Surg 25 181 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002660010118 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzmsVymtA%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. D Knopper H Feid W Hornberger (1996) ArticleTitleMadelung’s lipomatosis of the neck. Expression of an alcohol-induced disorder?. HNO 34 474

    Google Scholar 

  5. T Ruzicka D Vieluf M Landthaler O Braun-Falco (1987) ArticleTitleBenign symmetric lipomatosis. J Am Acad Derm 17 663 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieD3szosVE%3D Occurrence Handle3312316

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. PD Smith WK Stadelmann et al. (1998) ArticleTitleBenign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung’s disease). Ann Plast Surg 41 671 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FosVCruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9869144

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. C Tizian A Berger KF Vykoupil (1983) ArticleTitleMalignant degeneration in Madelung’s disease: Case report. Br J Plast Surg 36 187 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyC2MvktV0%3D Occurrence Handle6831098

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. C Von Hörl E Biemer (1992) ArticleTitleBenigne symmetrische lipomatose. Lipektomie und Liposuktion in der Behandlung des Morbus Madelung. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 24 39

    Google Scholar 

  9. DW Williams LE Ginsberg DM Moody BL McCain (1993) ArticleTitleMadelung disease; MR findings. AJNR 14 1070

    Google Scholar 

  10. R Wood (1990) ArticleTitleBenign symmetrical lipomatosis—a complication of excessive alcohol consumption. SAMJ 77 369 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BB3cfls1I%3D Occurrence Handle2321110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital KUL, Leuven, Belgium

    Nicolas A.C. Verhelle & Bert Van den hof

  2. Department of Maxillo-Facial and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium

    Nicolas A.C. Verhelle, Jean-Luc Nizet, Paul Guelinckx & Olivier Heymans

Authors
  1. Nicolas A.C. Verhelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean-Luc Nizet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bert Van den hof
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul Guelinckx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Olivier Heymans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verhelle, N.A., Nizet, JL., Van den hof, B. et al. Liposuction in Benign Symmetric Lipomatosis, Sense or Senseless? . Aesth. Plast. Surg. 27, 319–321 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-003-2016-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-003-2016-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation