Epidural Lipomatosis

This article is a stub.

Epidural lipomatosis is a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation of unencapsulated adipose tissue in the epidural space of the spinal canal. This abnormal fat deposition can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots, leading to various neurological symptoms such as back pain, radiculopathy, and in severe cases, cauda equina syndrome.^[1]

The aetiology of epidural lipomatosis is usually linked to obesity, chronic steroid use, or endocrine disorders like Cushing's syndrome.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Diagnosis is typically made through imaging studies, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can reveal the extent of fat accumulation and its impact on the spinal canal.

Treatment options include conservative measures such as weight loss and discontinuation of steroids, but surgical decompression is often required in cases with significant neurological deficits.

Resources

Epidural lipomatosis - Walker 2021.pdf - 370 KB (f)

Epidural lipomatosis - Dagostino 2023.pdf - 1.72 MB (f)

References

↑ Ishihara, Shinichi; Fujita, Nobuyuki; Yagi, Mitsuru; Tsuji, Takashi; Michikawa, Takehiro; Nishiwaki, Yuji; Fukui, Yasuyuki; Horiuchi, Keisuke; Ishii, Ken; Nakamura, Masaya; Matsumoto, Morio (2018-04-15). "Idiopathic Spinal Epidural Fat Accumulation Is Associated With Hyperlipidemia". Spine (in English). 43 (8): E468–E473. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000002392. ISSN 0362-2436.
↑ Morishita, Shingo; Arai, Yoshiyasu; Yoshii, Toshitaka; Sakai, Kenichiro; Hirai, Takashi; Okawa, Atsushi (2018-07). "Lumbar epidural lipomatosis is associated with visceral fat and metabolic disorders". European Spine Journal (in English). 27 (7): 1653–1661. doi:10.1007/s00586-018-5584-2. ISSN 0940-6719. Check date values in: |date= (help)
↑ Fujita, Nobuyuki; Hosogane, Naobumi; Hikata, Tomohiro; Iwanami, Akio; Watanabe, Kota; Shiono, Yuta; Okada, Eijiro; Ishikawa, Masayuki; Tsuji, Takashi; Shimoda, Masayuki; Horiuchi, Keisuke (2016-12-01). "Potential Involvement of Obesity-Associated Chronic Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis". Spine (in English). 41 (23): E1402–E1407. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000001646. ISSN 0362-2436.
↑ Mosch, Maarten H.W.; de Jong, Lex D.; Hazebroek, Eric J.; van Susante, Job L.C. (2022-02). "Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis is Increased in Patients With Morbid Obesity and Subsequently Decreases After Bariatric Surgery". World Neurosurgery (in English). 158: e495–e500. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.007. Check date values in: |date= (help)

[1] Ishihara, Shinichi; Fujita, Nobuyuki; Yagi, Mitsuru; Tsuji, Takashi; Michikawa, Takehiro; Nishiwaki, Yuji; Fukui, Yasuyuki; Horiuchi, Keisuke; Ishii, Ken; Nakamura, Masaya; Matsumoto, Morio (2018-04-15). "Idiopathic Spinal Epidural Fat Accumulation Is Associated With Hyperlipidemia". Spine (in English). 43 (8): E468–E473. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000002392. ISSN 0362-2436.

[2] Morishita, Shingo; Arai, Yoshiyasu; Yoshii, Toshitaka; Sakai, Kenichiro; Hirai, Takashi; Okawa, Atsushi (2018-07). "Lumbar epidural lipomatosis is associated with visceral fat and metabolic disorders". European Spine Journal (in English). 27 (7): 1653–1661. doi:10.1007/s00586-018-5584-2. ISSN 0940-6719. Check date values in: |date= (help)

[3] Fujita, Nobuyuki; Hosogane, Naobumi; Hikata, Tomohiro; Iwanami, Akio; Watanabe, Kota; Shiono, Yuta; Okada, Eijiro; Ishikawa, Masayuki; Tsuji, Takashi; Shimoda, Masayuki; Horiuchi, Keisuke (2016-12-01). "Potential Involvement of Obesity-Associated Chronic Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis". Spine (in English). 41 (23): E1402–E1407. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000001646. ISSN 0362-2436.

[4] Mosch, Maarten H.W.; de Jong, Lex D.; Hazebroek, Eric J.; van Susante, Job L.C. (2022-02). "Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis is Increased in Patients With Morbid Obesity and Subsequently Decreases After Bariatric Surgery". World Neurosurgery (in English). 158: e495–e500. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.007. Check date values in: |date= (help)

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