Clinical Photographs Editor Benign symmetric lipomatosis

A 56-year-old Mediterranean man with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse reported progressively enlarging masses in his cheeks, anterior and poste-rior cervical region, and back for 8 years. The patient had a past medical history significant for alcoholic hepatitis. He denied shortness of breath, dysphagia, odynophagia, or any other problems. The patient stated the cosmetic deformity was unappealing, and he came to our clinic for treatment. Physical examination revealed a friendly, slender man in no apparent distress. Personal hygiene was poor. Ear, nose, and throat evaluation was com-pletely within normal limits. The face had soft, spongy masses in both parotid regions and the an-terior cervical region (Fig. 1). The posterior cervical and upper back regions also had masses that were soft, spongy, and nontender (Fig. 2). The heart, lung, and abdominal examinations were normal. There were no masses on the extremities. Computed tomography scan revealed extensive infiltrating masses in the neck and back. The density of the lesion was consistent with fat. The patient underwent a cervical ipectomy. Pa-thology revealed lipomatous tissue. DISCUSSION Benign symmetric lipomatosis wa first described by Brodie in 1846. However, it was Madelung in 188