Asian Spine J.  2012 Sep;6(3):203-206. 10.4184/asj.2012.6.3.203.

Solitary Epidural Lipoma with Ipsilateral Facet Arthritis Causing Lumbar Radiculopathy

• Kim HK
• Koh SH
• Chung KJ

• KMID: 2270461
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2012.6.3.203

Abstract

A 55-year-old obese man (body mass index, 31.6 kg/m2) presented radiating pain and motor weakness in the left leg. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an epidural mass posterior to the L5 vertebral body, which was isosignal to subcutaneous fat and it asymmetrically compressed the left side of the cauda equina and the exiting left L5 nerve root on the axial T1 weighted images. Severe arthritis of the left facet joint and edema of the bone marrow regarding the left pedicle were also found. As far as we know, there have been no reports concerning a solitary epidural lipoma combined with ipsilateral facet arthorsis causing lumbar radiculopathy. Solitary epidural lipoma with ipsilateral facet arthritis causing lumbar radiculopathy was removed after the failure of conservative treatment. After decompression, the neurologic deficit was relieved. At a 2 year follow-up, motor weakness had completely recovered and the patient was satisfied with the result. We recommend that a solitary epidural lipoma causing neurologic deficit should be excised at the time of diagnosis.

Keyword

Solitary epidural lipoma; Posterior facet; Ipsilateral arthritis; Lumbar radiculopathy

MeSH Terms

Arthritis
Bone Marrow
Cauda Equina
Decompression
Edema
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Leg
Lipoma
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Middle Aged
Neurologic Manifestations
Radiculopathy
Subcutaneous Fat
Zygapophyseal Joint