Idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis.

Abstract

Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a rare disorder characterized by the pathological overgrowth of epidural fat and often causes extradural compression which may mimic other spinal disorders. Steroid administration is a well-documented etiology. We report a case of spinal epidural lipomastosis without history of steroid administration. The initial manifestation was bizarre and was misdiagnosed as a degenerative vertebral or disc disease for long. Posterior decompression with debulking of the extradural fat successfully and thoroughly relieved his symptoms. We emphasize the importance of taking this disease into consideration for a markedly obese patient with persisting back pain or symptoms suggesting spinal cord or other spinal neural elements compression.