A 65-year-old man had epidural lipomatosis following six months' treatment with corticosteroids for multiple myeloma.
The patient underwent decompressive laminectomy at the D4-D6 level.
Fat and some hard vascularized tissue extendng into the right D5 foramen were removed. At histological examination the tissue was composed of a dual component consisting of fat cells infiltrated by lymphomatous cells.
The literature is reviewed to evaluate the frequency and possible causes of this condition.
GueganYFardounR: Spinal cord compression by fat after prolonger corticosteroid therapy. J Neurosurg56: 267–269, 1982.
5.
ZampellaEJDuvallER: Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis as a complication of steroid immunosuppression in cardiac transplant patients. J Neurosurg67: 760–764, 1987.
