Abstract

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis (MSL) is a rare disease characterized by symmetrical massive fatty deposits on the face, neck, shoulders, and upper trunk. We report a 74-year-old man who complained of painless subcutaneous nodules on his posterior neck that developed 3 weeks earlier. In a week, variably-sized similar lesions developed on both his shoulders and upper extremities. At the time of his hospital visit, several firm nodules as big as a walnut to a child's fist and with the normal-skin-hue were observed on his posterior neck, both shoulders, upper extremities, and trunk. The histological examination of his upper left arm revealed more mature adipocytes without encapsulation in the subcutaneous tissue. MSL was generally known to occur slowly over months or years. However, this is an unusual case that showed a fast-growing nature.

• Keywords: Madelung disease;Multiple symmetric lipomatosis