Spinal extradural angiolipoma: report of two cases and review of the literature

Eur Spine J. 2009 Mar;18(3):324-35. doi: 10.1007/s00586-008-0858-8. Epub 2009 Jan 6.

Abstract

Spinal angiolipomas are benign uncommon neoplasm composed of mature lipocytes admixed with abnormal blood vessels. They account for only 0.04-1.2% of all spinal tumors. We report two cases of lumbar extradural angiolipoma and review previously reported cases. We found 118 cases of spinal epidural angiolipoma (70 females and 48 males; age range 1.5-85 years, mean 44.03) spanning from 1890 to 2006. Prior to diagnosis 40.6% of the patients had weakness of the lower limbs. The interval between the initial symptoms and tumor diagnosis ranged from 1 day to 17 years (mean 20.2 months). Except for four cases diagnosed at autopsy, 109 patients underwent surgery and gross-total resection was performed in 79 cases (72.4%). Spinal angiolipomas are tumors containing angiomatous and lipomatous tissue, predominantly located in the mid-thoracic region. All angiolipomas show iso- or hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and most lesions enhance with gadolinium administration. The treatment for spinal extradural angiolipomas is total surgical resection and no adjuvant therapy should be administered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Angiolipoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Angiolipoma / pathology*
  • Angiolipoma / surgery
  • Epidural Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Epidural Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Epidural Neoplasms / surgery
  • Epidural Space / diagnostic imaging
  • Epidural Space / pathology
  • Epidural Space / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Polyradiculopathy / etiology
  • Polyradiculopathy / pathology*
  • Polyradiculopathy / surgery
  • Radiography
  • Sacrum / diagnostic imaging
  • Sacrum / pathology
  • Sacrum / surgery
  • Spinal Canal / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Canal / pathology
  • Spinal Canal / surgery
  • Spinal Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome