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Spinal cord compression by extradural fat after prolonged corticosteroid therapy
Journal of Neurosurgery
|February 1, 1982
Summary
Extradural fat deposits can cause thoracic spinal cord compression, particularly in patients with a history of renal transplant and corticosteroid use. Surgical removal of this fat led to significant clinical improvement, indicating its role in compression.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pathology
Background:
- A patient with a history of renal transplant and long-term corticosteroid therapy presented with recurrent thoracic spinal cord compression.
- Previous surgical interventions had been performed for the condition.
Observation:
- During surgical exploration, an unusual finding was a substantial accumulation of extradural fat.
- This extradural fat did not exhibit typical features of a lipoma.
Findings:
- The extradural fat deposit was identified as the cause of thoracic spinal cord compression.
- Postoperative clinical improvement was notable, strongly suggesting the fat deposit's pathological significance.
Implications:
- This case highlights an uncommon cause of spinal cord compression secondary to steroid-induced or transplant-related fat deposition.
- It underscores the importance of considering atypical extradural masses in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression, especially in immunocompromised patients.