Idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis - two cases report and review of literature

Abstract

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL), an abnormal localized or tumor-like accumulation of fat in the epidural space, is an infrequent complication of chronic steroid usage and an uncommon cause of spinal cord compression. During the period of 1990 to 2006, we have two cases of medically heath SEL patients without history of steroid administration. Their initial clinical manifestations were low back pain, progressive lower extremities weakness, numbness, followed by rapid deterioration of neurogenic intermittent claudication. They were misdiagnosed and treated as degenerative spinal disease for a long time. Due to prominent neurological deficit, lumbar magnetic resonance image (MRI) was obtained and showed SEL. These 2 patients all underwent laminectomy and removal of epidural fat. Postoperatively, they both showed improvement. We reviewed the literature and discussed the current concept in the management of SEL.