Spinal epidural angiolipoma: rare or unreported?

Neurosurgery. 1992 Oct;31(4):758-64; discussion 764. doi: 10.1227/00006123-199210000-00023.

Abstract

Three cases of spinal epidural angiolipoma, all affecting middle-aged women, are reported. Spinal epidural angiolipomas are considered a separate entity from the more common lipomas involving the same space. Although these tumors are considered very rare, the occurrence of three cases in less than 2 years in the same geographical area raises the question of their frequency. The computed tomographic scan has been misleading in two of our patients, whereas magnetic resonance imaging was highly suggestive. Two of these tumors were apparently exceptional, being lumbar and anterior. The patients were admitted with typical sciatic symptoms; one tumor eroded the vertebral body. Spinal epidural angiolipomas may go unreported because their pathogenetic potential is not fully recognized. We suggest that both magnetic resonance imaging and the operating microscope should have a more significant place in the evaluation and treatment of sciatica.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Epidural Space
  • Female
  • Hemangioma / epidemiology
  • Hemangioma / pathology
  • Hemangioma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Laminectomy
  • Lipoma / epidemiology
  • Lipoma / pathology
  • Lipoma / surgery*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / surgery
  • Spinal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Spinal Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed