The authors present two cases of extradural spinal lipomas causing spinal cord compression, not associated with spinal dysraphism. Sixty-nine cases of such tumours have been reported in the literature. It is important to distinguish between two histological types of these neoplasms: angiolipoma and true lipoma. They have a different distribution in relation to age and site of occurrence. The outcome can be quite variable considering the greater surgical problems that true lipomas can cause.