Madelung's disease -a case series from a single-center experience

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction Madelung's disease (MD), also known as multiple symmetric lipomatosis, is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of unencapsulated adipose tissue, predominantly in the head, neck, and upper trunk. Non-surgical treatment options remain limited in effectiveness, making surgical excision the primary therapeutic approach. However, challenges such as intraoperative bleeding and postoperative recurrence necessitate ongoing refinement of surgical techniques. Methods We conducted a retrospective case series involving six patients diagnosed with Madelung's disease and treated surgically between 2018 and 2024 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, University Clinical Hospital in Gdańsk. All patients underwent staged surgical excision of pathological adipose tissue following infiltration with Klein's solution to minimize bleeding. Demographic and clinical data, comorbidities, fat distribution patterns (Type I or II), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. The primary outcome was recurrence in the operated regions over a one-year follow-up period; the secondary outcome was the occurrence of surgical complications. Results The study included five male and one female patient, with a mean age of 57 years (range: 44-67). Risk factors included smoking ( n = 4), alcohol abuse ( n = 2), and metabolic or systemic comorbidities. The BMI ranged from 21 to 33. All p

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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