Thoracic epidural lipomatosis with associated syrinx: case report

A 54-year-old black male with a 15-year history progressive lower extremity weakness was evaluated with a thoracic MRI that revealed epidural lipomatosis extending from T1-T10 with an associated syrinx at T1-3. He was neither overweight nor taking steroids. A multilevel thoracic laminectomy with resection of lipoma was performed without directly addressing the syrinx. Postoperatively, his symptoms improved and an MRI obtained 1 year after surgery demonstrated resolution of the syrinx. This is the only case of epidural lipomatosis with an associated syrinx that we have seen reported in the world literature.