CT findings of Madelung's disease in the head and neck region

Objective: To investigate the CT findings of Madelung's disease in the head and neck region, and to evaluate the value of CT in demonstrating the Madelung's disease in the head and neck region. Methods: CT findings of Madelung's disease in the head and neck region in 7 cases were analyzed retrospectively. All were males, with the age from 36 to 60 years, mean 51 years. All patients were underwent CT native scan, and enhanced CT scan was performed on 3 of them. Results: CT images in the neck of all patients showed accumulation of nonencapsulated fat within the subcutaneous tissue and (or) deep to the platysma, and (or) within the spaces between the muscles. The fat deposits were ill-defined and symmetrical. In most cases the fat deposits involved the anterior part of the neck (infrahyoid and suprahyoid), submandibular region, the subcutaneous tissue of the nape and deep to the sternomastoid muscles. Conclusions: Madelung's disease in the head and neck region have characteristic CT findings, and CT has great value in qualitative and quantitative diagnosis in Madelung's disease. (authors)