Madelung disease

Case contributed by Matt Skalski
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Enlarging neck and a new bump on the right. History of alcoholism.

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male
mri

There are large, bilateral and symmetric non-encapsulated fatty masses in the posterior neck. A superficial, small, well-defined, encapsulated, intermediate T1 and high STIR signal intensity lesion is noted on the right side of the neck adjacent to the superior aspect of the right-sided fatty mass. 

Case Discussion

The findings in this case are typical of Madelung disease, with bilaterally symmetric, non-encapuslated fatty masses in the posterior neck. Other differential diagnoses to consider in the case of multiple lipomatous lesions would include Dercum diseasefamilial multiple lipomatosis and Bannayan-Zonana syndrome

The cystic lesion in the right side of the neck is typical of a sebaceous cyst, however an epidermal inclusion cyst cannot be excluded as it would look identical. 

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