Final answer:
Madelung disease is characterized by lipomas on the head, neck, and shoulder girdle. It is distinct from other syndromes like Gardner syndrome, Proteus syndrome, and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, and should not be confused with Cushing's syndrome, which results from excessive cortisol and has different symptoms like 'moon face'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The syndrome that is characterized by the presence of lipomas primarily on the head, neck, and shoulder girdle is known as Madelung disease (option C). Madelung disease, also known as multiple symmetric lipomatosis, is a rare disorder that involves the growth of fatty tumors around the upper body. While other disorders such as Gardner syndrome, Proteus syndrome, and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome can also involve the growth of benign tumors, Madelung disease specifically features the unique distribution of lipomas in the mentioned areas. Cushing's syndrome, on the other hand, is characterized by a distinctive 'moon face' and obesity of the face, neck, and trunk, often referred to as a buffalo hump, due to excessive cortisol production by the endocrine system, rather than the growth of lipomas.