[Madelung's disease (benign symmetric lipomatosis): still a mystery?]

The benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) is frequently associated with alcoholism. After 150 years of history, many questions about its physiopathological mechanism are still unresolved. Presentation of a patient with this rare condition is reported, followed by a review of the literature, where the pathogenesis, the differential diagnosis and the surgical approach of this syndrome are especially pointed out.