[Spinal epidural lipomatosis as a rare side effect in steroid-dependent Jo-1 antibody syndrome]

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) of the thoracic and lumbar spine is a rare entity, which leads to compression of the spinal canal. The exact pathogenesis is still unknown. It most commonly occurs in patients with long-term exogenous or endogenous glucocorticoid excess or morbid obesity but there are also idiopathic forms. The symptoms depend on the severity of the SEL and can manifest as clinically asymptomatic, non-specific back pain, radiculopathy up to spinal cord compression. The diagnosis is usually achieved by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected spinal segments. The treatment varies between discontinuation of glucocorticoids, weight reduction up to multisegmental decompressive laminectomy. The following case report presents the findings of SEL in a patient with steroid-dependent Jo-1 antibody syndrome and provides a current literature review on this rare disease.