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Idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis without obesity: a case with relapsing and remitting course
A Akhaddar1, H Ennouali, M Gazzaz
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of King Mohammed V Medical School, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Morocco. akhaddar@hotmail.fr
Study Design:
Case report of a rare form of idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) manifesting with relapsing and remitting course.
Objective:
To describe this very rare clinical and pathological condition and the results of surgical intervention.
Setting:
A department of neurosurgery in Morocco.
Methods:
A 24-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of mid-thoracic back pain and progressive neurogenic claudication with two episodes of remitting and relapsing course. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a fatty epidural mass extending from T4 to T9. Posterior decompression was performed, and he was followed for 3 years after the operation.
Results:
Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed nodules of mature fat cells without neoplasm. The patient's symptoms completely resolved after surgical decompression.
Conclusion:
Fluctuating clinical course has not been reported previously in SEL. Such pathology should be considered in the differential diagnosis of demyelinating diseases.
