Spinal cord compression secondary to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disorder in which the abnormal fibrotic tissue compresses retroperitoneal organs. In the majority of patients no obvious cause can be found, hence the name idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. The process can also arise from other anatomic areas, suggesting a multifocal origin. We report a case of dorsal epidural compression in a 63-year-old patient harboring idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed the precise location of the lesion. It is suggested that retroperitoneal fibrosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of epidural spinal cord compression.