Haitham Ben Ali1, Laila Batarfi2, Moneera O Aldraihem3, Shahid Bashir4. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam (KFSHD), Dammam, Saudi Arabia. haitham.ali@kfsh.med.sa. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam (KFSHD), Dammam, Saudi Arabia. 3. Department of Neurology, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 4. Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam (KFSHD), Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Non-dysraphic intradural spinal cord lipomas are rare, and true intramedullary cervical-thoracic lipomas are extremely rare. Spinal lipomas usually present with chronic, progressive myelopathic features. Unlike dysraphic lipomas, which are usually located in the lumbo-sacral region, non-dysraphic lipomas are usually located in the cervical or thoracic spine. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an unusual case of a 21-year-old female who presented with four months of severe back pain, progressive spasticity, and weakness in the lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a T1- and T2-hyperintense lesion between D4 and D6. DISCUSSION: This fatty intramedullary lesion had undergone evolution and a possible hemorrhagic infarct and cord compression. The patient underwent an urgent dorsal laminoplasty and total resection of this lesion, which histopathology indicated was a fibrous lipoma. Total resection is possible in such cases if a micro-surgical technique that includes neurophysiological monitoring is used.
INTRODUCTION: Non-dysraphic intradural spinal cord lipomas are rare, and true intramedullary cervical-thoracic lipomas are extremely rare. Spinal lipomas usually present with chronic, progressive myelopathic features. Unlike dysraphic lipomas, which are usually located in the lumbo-sacral region, non-dysraphic lipomas are usually located in the cervical or thoracic spine. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an unusual case of a 21-year-old female who presented with four months of severe back pain, progressive spasticity, and weakness in the lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a T1- and T2-hyperintense lesion between D4 and D6. DISCUSSION: This fatty intramedullary lesion had undergone evolution and a possible hemorrhagic infarct and cord compression. The patient underwent an urgent dorsal laminoplasty and total resection of this lesion, which histopathology indicated was a fibrous lipoma. Total resection is possible in such cases if a micro-surgical technique that includes neurophysiological monitoring is used.
Authors: Steven C Kirshblum; Stephen P Burns; Fin Biering-Sorensen; William Donovan; Daniel E Graves; Amitabh Jha; Mark Johansen; Linda Jones; Andrei Krassioukov; M J Mulcahey; Mary Schmidt-Read; William Waring Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Brahim El Mostarchid; Akhdar Ali; M Maftah; A Mansouri; J Laghzioui; B Kadiri; M Gazzaz; M Chafiq; Mohammed Boucetta Journal: Joint Bone Spine Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 4.929