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Hong ShuA Chinese man with Madelung's disease.
Country:
 China |
Content:
- The Chinese Man with Madelung's Disease
- Rare Disease: Madelung's Disease
- Onset and Progression
- Diagnosis and Alcohol Consumption
- Madelung's Disease and Symptoms
- Treatment for Madelung's Disease
The Chinese Man with Madelung's Disease
Excessive Alcohol Intake Causes Massive Fat DepositsA Chinese man has developed massive fat deposits around his neck due to consuming almost a liter of strong alcoholic beverages daily for over 30 years. Hong Shu, a resident of Guangzhou, China, indulged in a liter of baijiu, similar to Russian vodka, each day, earning him the nickname "the man with the horse's neck." The fatty growth around his neck has grown to alarming proportions.
Rare Disease: Madelung's Disease
The affected individual was diagnosed with Madelung's disease, a rare condition characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits in various areas of the body, including the neck, arms, and legs. Hong Shu has undergone multiple surgeries recently to remove the fatty buildup. He is expected to return home soon. Reports indicate that Hong has been suffering from Madelung's disease for a decade, but the condition was only recently diagnosed. Worldwide, only about 400 people are known to have this rare ailment.
Onset and Progression
Now 53 years old, Hong noticed strange changes in his body over a decade ago. Tumors began to appear behind both ears, which gradually grew into the fat deposits that now encircle his neck. The unsightly growth has been likened to a horse's, cow's, and even a camel's neck. The man withdrew from society, becoming depressed and rarely venturing outside his home.
Diagnosis and Alcohol Consumption
Before Hong underwent the recent surgeries, the tumor on his neck measured approximately 16 cm wide and 14 cm long. In addition, he had two additional growths on the back of his head, measuring a combined 19.5 cm in length. Since the beginning of 2015, the tumor began to grow rapidly, creating severe difficulties for its bearer. Hong struggled to turn his neck, swallow, and breathe.
Medical examinations and X-rays led to the diagnosis, with doctors citing excessive alcohol consumption as the cause of the Madelung's disease. The man admitted to consuming one to two liters of baijiu, a Chinese alcoholic beverage, daily. This beverage is made from rice, sorghum, or other grains and has an alcohol content ranging from 40 to 60 percent.
Over a 30-year period, Hong consumed over 10,000 liters of alcohol, triggering the development of the rare disease.
Madelung's Disease and Symptoms
Madelung's disease typically involves benign fatty tumors. However, these tumors can potentially become malignant. Men between the ages of 30 and 70 who have a history of prolonged alcohol abuse are at the highest risk. However, the condition can also occur in people who do not consume alcohol.
Sufferers experience difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and impaired mobility.
Treatment for Madelung's Disease
Surgical removal or liposuction are the usual treatments for Madelung's disease.
