A dumbbell spinal lipoma presenting as a neck mass: CT and MR demonstration

A case of histologically confirmed spinal lipoma without associated spinal dysraphism is presented. This tumor appeared lobulated, extending through an enlarged neuroforamen to form a so-called dumbbell tumor. In a review of the literature, there were found to be only four case reports of a dumbbell spinal lipoma. Our case was unique in that it manifested as a neck mass without neurological deficits. The fatty nature of the tumor allowed easy detection by computed tomography (CT), as well as by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR is judged to be superior to CT for preoperative planning by virtue of its superb intraspinal resolution and multiplanar capability, and should be the procedure of choice for evaluating spinal lipomas.