Surgeons in Ukraine perform first operation for rare Madelung disease

Surgeons at St. Panteleimon Hospital in Lviv, Ukraine, performed two stages of surgery on a 33-year-old man to treat Madelung’s disease.

This rare condition causes abnormal fatty tissue growth, which the patient first noticed in 2022. The growths spread across his face, neck, shoulders, arms, and abdomen, making it difficult for him to sleep, chew, or turn his head.

The medical team removed more than a kilogram of fatty deposits and excess skin from the front and back of the man's neck. The Lviv City Council reported that the procedures were completed without complications. Following the surgeries, the man experienced improved mobility and found it easier to breathe and chew. This case marks the first time specialists at the hospital have treated this specific condition. Experts note that only around 600 cases of Madelung’s disease have been documented worldwide.