Removal of intramedullary lipoma by endoscopic technique: a case report

The lipoma is a common benign tumor of the subcutaneous body, and it is commonly found on the surface of the skin. But, it can also involve any tissue or organ. Intraspinal lipomas are rare, which account for less than 1% of intraspinal tumors. Among these, intramedullary lipoma is an even rarer condition, compared to extramedullary subdural or epidural types. Intraspinal tumors were removed by the open surgery in common, due to its adequate intraoperative visualization and complete resection. But for intraspinal lipomas, it does not exhibit implantation metastasis, making minimally invasive spinal endoscopic surgery considered as an option. We performed a resection of a intramedullary lipoma, and the surgery was conducted under the guidance of spinal endoscopy. Compared with open surgery, minimally invasive spinal endoscopic surgery may be more advantageous in reducing soft tissue injury and bony structure destruction, allowing patients to achieve rapid recovery. The symptoms of numbness in the left limb and unsteady gait of the patient completely disappeared after the operation. It should be noted that continuous bleeding during the operation exacerbates the complexity of the surgery. When removing lipomas, patience and meticulousness are crucial for the operation.