Intradural cervical lipoma in a neurologically intact patient: case report

Nondysraphic spinal intramedullary lipoma: A rare case and management

A 14-year-old female patient presented with symptoms of chronic mid and low back pain that radiated to both lower limbs for 5 months, with rapidly progressive lower limb weakness and urine retention. Radiologic evaluation revealed an intramedullary mass at the level of first to sixth thoracic vertebrae. The patient underwent surgery and intraoperative findings showed an intramedullary mass lesion composed of well-differentiated fat tissue. A postoperative histopathologic examination revealed mature adipose tissues consistent with lipoma. Post-operatively patient showed improvement in lower limb motor power and started an extensive rehabilitation program.

Intraspinal lipomas without associated spinal dysraphism

Introduction:

The aim of this study was to report surgical strategies and clinical outcomes for thoraco-lumbar intradural lipomas. Intraspinal lipomas are rare congenital histologically benign neoplasms, which account for less than 1% of all spinal cord tumors. These tumors are most frequently found in the lumbosacral area as components of a dysraphic state, however, intramedullary lipomas are not associated with spina bifida or cutaneous malformations and have only been described as isolated cases among spinal lipomas, where the thoracolumbar region is rarely affected.

Case Presentation:

Three patients with thoracolumbar intradural lipomas were admitted to our clinic at different points of time. Partial resections and debulking of the tumors were achieved with the guidance of an operating microscope. We performed laminectomies or laminoplasties, for tumor resections.

Discussion:

Postoperatively, the patients demonstrated significant clinical improvements. In this manuscript we presented our surgical experiences for intraspinal lipomas.

Intradural lipoma of the cervicothoracic spinal cord with intracranial extension

INTRODUCTION

Intradural spinal lipoma is rare and seen about 1% of all tumors of the spinal cord. Lipomas of the cervical location with intracranial extension are extremely rare and are described as intramedullary or subpial location.

CASE

A 12-year-old female with lipoma of the cervicothoracic spinal cord demonstrated progressive quadriparesis. The patient underwent surgery with decompression of the affected craniocervical location.

DISCUSSION

In the reported case, we describe a rare intradural lipoma of the cervicothoracic spinal cord with posterior fossa extension in the child, and the relevant English medical literature is reviewed.