What is Madelung's disease?

Madelung's disease is a rare disorder of fat metabolism (lipid storage) that results in an unusual accumulation of subcutaneous fat (adipose tissue) deposits around the neck, shoulders, trunk, hips, upper arms and thighs. The fat masses can progress quickly over months or slowly over years.

How is madelung's disease treated?

The therapeutic approach in Madelung's disease is reduced to palliative treatment, which includes surgical resection of the adipose tissue, liposuction, or injection lipolysis. It seems reasonable to correct metabolic disorders and overweight.

What conditions cause multiple lipomas?

Certain Medical Conditions A person may develop one or more lipomas if they have Gardner syndrome (an inherited condition that causes benign and malignant tumors to form), adiposis dolorosa, familial multiple lipomatosis, or Madelung disease (seen mostly in men who are heavy drinkers).

What is Adiposis Dolorosa?

Adiposis dolorosa is a condition characterized by painful folds of fatty (adipose) tissue or the growth of multiple noncancerous (benign) fatty tumors called lipomas. This condition occurs most often in women who are overweight or have obesity, and signs and symptoms typically appear between ages 35 and 50.

Can you have multiple lipomas?

Familial multiple lipomatosis is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the formation of multiple growths of fatty tissue (lipomas) that most often affect the trunk, arms and upper leg. The size and number of lipomas varies from person to person.

Madelung disease - Medical Definition and Pronunciation

Why do people get lipomas?

Lipomas often show up after an injury, though doctors don't know whether that's what makes them form. Inherited conditions can bring them on. Some people who have a rare condition known as Madelung's disease can get them. This most often affects men of Mediterranean ancestry who have alcohol use disorder.

What is the main cause of lipoma?

The cause of lipomas is largely unknown. There may be a genetic cause in people with multiple lipomas. Around 2 to 3 percent of people who develop a lipoma have a family history of the condition. Some research suggests that lipomas may develop in an area where an injury has caused a significant impact.

How do I know if I have Dercums disease?

What are the symptoms of Dercum disease? This syndrome consists of four cardinal symptoms: (1) multiple, painful, fatty masses; (2) generalized obesity, usually in menopausal age; (3) weakness and fatigability; and (4) mental disturbances, including emotional instability, depression, epilepsy, confusion and dementia.

What kind of doctor treats Dercums disease?

Since this is a very rare condition, you may need to be diagnosed by a specialist. This could be an internist, dermatologist (skin doctor), or an endocrinologist who treats hormone (gland) problems. You may also want to see a pain specialist.

How painful is Dercums disease?

Dercum's disease is characterized by pronounced pain in the adipose tissue. The pain is burning and searing. The pain can be severe, is chronic (> 3 months) and is disabling. It is believed that pain is always associated with smaller or bigger subcutaneous adipose lumps.

What is the best treatment for lipoma?

Most lipomas don't need treatment. If a lipoma is bothering you, your provider can remove it surgically. Lipoma removal procedures are safe and effective, and you can usually go home the same day. As an alternative to lipoma surgery, your provider may recommend liposuction to remove the lipoma.

Should I be worried about lipomas?

A lipoma isn't cancer and usually is harmless. Treatment generally isn't necessary, but if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, you may want to have it removed.

How do you stop lipomas from growing?

Can Madelung deformity get worse?

Over time, the deformity can get worse resulting in break down of the joint and instability. Tendon rupture is possible in advanced cases.

What causes Madelung's deformity?

The exact cause of Madelung's deformity is unknown. It may be because of an abnormal growth plate in the radius. It could also be caused by an abnormality in the ligament that connects the end of the radius to the small bones of the wrist.

Is Dercum's disease life threatening?

According to a review in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases , Dercum's disease is anywhere from 5 to 30 times more common in women. This wide range is an indication that Dercum's disease isn't well understood. Despite this lack of knowledge, there's no evidence that Dercum's disease affects life expectancy.

How rare is Dercum disease?

DD is thought to be rare. A rare disease as defined by the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 means that less than 200,000 people have the disease.

Does Dercums disease make you fat?

Definition and clinical description. The main symptoms of Dercum's disease, according to the early reports, are obesity and painful adipose tissue [6]. The most common locations for painful fat and for lipomas are the extremities, the trunk, the pelvic area, and the buttocks (Figure 1).

What is the difference between lipedema and Dercums disease?

Unlike lipedema, Dercum's disease can cause patients to experience swelling in their hands or feet. Swelling and inflammation due to Dercum's syndrome may occur for no apparent reason, and unlike with lipedema, may disappear without treatment.

Can lipoma be cured?

No treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed. Lipoma treatments include: Surgical removal.

Can lipoma turn cancerous?

Cancerous tumours of the fat cells are called liposarcomas. They are a type of soft tissue sarcoma. It is very rare for lipomas to turn into a cancerous sarcoma. It is still important to tell your doctor if your lipoma changes in any way or if you get any new lumps.

Can I remove lipoma myself?

[a lipoma] could be easily removed at home with nothing more than a scalpel.

What do lipomas look like?

Lipomas often form in the fatty tissue under the skin. These are also the most noticeable ones, as they look and feel like soft, dome-shaped lumps under the skin. They vary in size from pea-sized to several centimetres in diameter.

Can a lipoma burst?

These lipomas are usually seen incidentally on brain imaging, and are usually asymptomatic and do not require treatment. The authors present a case of ruptured intracranial lipoma, discovered in an elderly patient presenting with dizziness and episodes of falls.