Abstract

Multiple symmetric lipomatosis is a rare disease and affects almost exclusively middle aged man, usually with a background of excessive a alcohol intake. The disease is characterized by progressive growth of subcutaneous fat masses which are located symmetrically at neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen and groin, and which subsequently penetrate deeply into the surrounding spaces and structures with symptomatic compression of deep organs, such as trachea. A recent survey revealed a high incidence of sometic and autonomic neuropathy. The exact cause of the disease is not known, but a hyperplastic mechanism has been postulated, with in vitro studies demonstrating a defect in adrenergic-stimulated lipolysis of lipomatous tissue. We have experienced two cases of multiple symmetric lipomatosis. Case 1 was a 59-year-old male, complaining of slowly enlarging doughunt ring-shaped mass at his neck. He had a habit of excessive alcohol intake for many years. The subcutaneous mass at the neck was excised. The pathology report described the specimen as "normal adipose tissue".
Case
2 was a 49-year-old male, complanining of slowly enlarging multiple symmetric masses at the neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, flank and groin over a period of 6 years. He also complained of mild muscular weakness. He had a habit of excessive alcohol intake for many years. The subcutaneous mass in the neck was excised. The specimen had a tendency to form globular masses and microscopically indistinguishable from mature adipose tissue.

• Keywords: Multiple symmetric lipomatosis;Cervical symmetric lipomatosis;Adrenergic stimulated lipolysis;Peripheral neuropathy