[Madelung's disease--the problem of treating benign growths of the adipose tissue]

Symmetric, sometimes monstrous fat deposits occur in this rare benign disease. They can extend from the neck to the shoulders and from the mandible to the clavicle. The authors have treated 3 patients during the last 4 years. One of them was sent as an inpatient with the diagnosis of lymphadenitis. The aetiology is unknown. Some metabolic disorders (gout, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia) are discussed as causes. Alcoholism seems to be an important factor. Surgical removal of the fat deposits is the therapy of choice despite the tendency to recur which is described in the literature.