Xanthosis in the spinal epidural space--an epiduroscopy finding

We report the presence of yellow pigment (xanthosis) in the eqidural space of a patient with a chronic painful radiculopathy. A 55-year-old Caucasian male patient with a left L5, S1 radiculopathy underwent epiduroscopy and epidural neurolysis. Epiduroscopy findings in the area of the nerve root associated with the radiculopathy included the presence of diffuse perivascular yellow pigments, increased vascularity and diffuse increased presence of sheets of fibrous tissue. This is a novo epiduroscopy finding. The case demonstrates the potential for epiduroscopy to expand our knowledge about pathological changes associated with some chronic painful conditions.