Idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis without obesity: a case with relapsing and remitting course.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report of a rare form of idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) manifesting with relapsing and remitting course.

OBJECTIVE

To describe this very rare clinical and pathological condition and the results of surgical intervention.

SETTING

A department of neurosurgery in Morocco.

METHODS

A 24-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of mid-thoracic back pain and progressive neurogenic claudication with two episodes of remitting and relapsing course. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a fatty epidural mass extending from T4 to T9. Posterior decompression was performed, and he was followed for 3 years after the operation.

RESULTS

Pathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed nodules of mature fat cells without neoplasm. The patient's symptoms completely resolved after surgical decompression.

CONCLUSION

Fluctuating clinical course has not been reported previously in SEL. Such pathology should be considered in the differential diagnosis of demyelinating diseases.