["Fatty neck." Symmetrical lipomatosis with Madelung's symptom (author's transl)]

The relatively rare disease of symmetrical lipomatosis is described on the basic of six own observations. For many years five patients worked with asphalt and one was a coal-miner. Because of this professional exposition oil and cole products are considered to be reason for this disease. The still unknown aetiology and pathogenesis are discussed and finally the surgical therapy is presented.