Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T01:11:47.619Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: A Complication of Glucocorticoid Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

N. A. Russell ,
G. Belanger ,
B. G. Benoit ,
D. N. Latter ,
D. L. Finestone  and
G. W. Armstrong
N. A. Russell*
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
G. Belanger
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
B. G. Benoit
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
D. N. Latter
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
D. L. Finestone
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
G. W. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Divisions of Neurosurgery, Neurology, Family Practice, Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Royal Ottawa Regional Rehabilitation Centre and the University of Ottawa
*
1081 Carling Avenue, Suite 308, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4G2
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A 21-year-old woman receiving prolonged high dosage glucocorticoids developed spinal cord compression due to excessive accumulation of epidural fat. Computerized tomographic scanning confirmed the diagnosis and revealed a peculiar pattern of spinal cord displacement which we believe to be unique to compression by fat. Laminectomy did not afford relief, possibly because of prolonged neural compression or because of compression at a higher spinal level. Although an unusual complication of Cushing’s syndrome, epidural lipomatosis should be considered when such a patient develops symptoms of spinal cord or cauda equina compression.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , August 1984 , pp. 383 - 386
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1984

References

Archer, CR, Smith, KR Jr (1982) Extradural lipomatosis simulating an acute herniated nucleus pulposus. J. Neurosurg. 57: 559–562.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bodman, SF, Condemi, JJ (1967) Mediastinal widening in aitrogenic Cushing’s syndrome. Ann. Intern. Med. 67: 399–402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butcher, DL, Sahan, SA (1979) Epidural lipomatosis: A complication of corticosteroid therapy. Ann. Intern. Med. 90: 60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chapman, PHet al. (1981) Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis associated with Cushing’s syndrome. Neurosurgery 8: 724–727.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
George, WE Jret al. (1979) Medical management of steroid induced epidural lipomatosis. N. Engl. J. Med. 308: 318–319.Google Scholar
Godeau, Pet al. (1979) Lipomatosis extradurale compressive accident inhabituel de la corticotherapie: (une observation). Neuv. Presse Méd. 90:3889–3891.Google Scholar
Gold, EM (1979) The Cushing’ s syndromes: Changing views of diagnosis and treatment. Ann. Intern. Med. 90: 829–844.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guegan, Yet al. (1982) Spinal cord by compression extradural fat after prolonged corticosteroid therapy: Case Report. J. Neurosurg. 36: 267–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koerner, HJ, Sun, Di-C (1966) Mediastinal lipomatosis secondary to steroid therapy. Am. L. Roentgenol Radiat. Ther. Nuc. Med. 1988: 461–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, Met al. (1975) Spinal cord compression by extradural fat after renal transplantation. Med. J. Aust. 1: 201–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lipson, SJet al. (1980) Spinal stenosis caused by epidural lipomatosis in Cushing’s syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 302: 36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lucerna, GEet al. (1966) “Dewlap”: a corticosteroid induced episternal fatty tumor. N. Engl. J. Med. 275: 834–835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matsui, T, In discussion of Chapman et al. (See ref. 4). Price, GE Jr, Rigler, LG (1970) Widening of the mediastinum resulting from fat accumulation. Radiology. 96: 497–500.Google Scholar
Santini, LC, Williams, JL (1971) Mediastinal widening (Presumably lipomatosis) in Cushing’s syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 284:1357–1359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sowerbutts, JG (1959) Some uses of presacral oxygen insufflation. J. Radiol. (Lond.) 10: 201.Google Scholar
Teates, CD (1970) Steroid induced mediastinal lipomatosis. Radiology. 96: 501–502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed