Top

Published in:

01-07-2010 | Case Report

Acute spinal cord compression due to epidural lipomatosis complicated by an abscess: magnetic resonance and pathology findings

Authors: Giulio Zuccoli, Nicolò Pipitone, Nicola De Carli, Luigi Vecchia, Stefano C. Bartoletti

Published in: European Spine Journal | Special Issue 2/2010

Abstract

A 68-year-old male presented with rapidly progressive paraplegia. MR images of the thoracic spine were interpreted as being consistent with an abscess within an epidural lipomatosis compressing the spinal cord. Laminectomy was performed, and a large amount of pus was drained from the epidural lipomatosis, from which Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. This is the first reported case of an abscess involving an epidural lipomatosis.

Nussbaum ES, Rigamonti D, Standiford H, Numaguchi Y, Wolf AL, Robinson WL (1998) Spinal epidural abscess: a report of 40 cases and review. Surg Neurol 38:225–231CrossRef

Tang HJ, Lin HJ, Liu YC, Li CM (2002) Spinal epidural abscess: experience with 46 patients and evaluation of prognostic factors. J Infect 45:76–81CrossRefPubMed

Batson OV (1940) The function of vertebral veins and their role in spread of metastases. Ann Surg 112:138–149CrossRefPubMed

Sato M, Yamashita K, Aoki Y, Hiroshima K (1995) Idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis. Case report and review of the literature. Clin Orthop 320:129–134PubMed

Haddad S, Hitchon P, Godersky J (1991) Idiopathic and glucocorticoid induced spinal epidural lipomatosis. J Neurosurg 74:38–42CrossRefPubMed

Borstlap A, Van Rooij W, Sluzewski M, Leyten A, Beute G (1995) Reversibility of lumbar epidural lipomatosis in obese patients after weight-reduction diet. Neuroradiology 37:670–673CrossRefPubMed

Payer M, Walser H (2008) Evacuation of a 14-vertebral-level cervico-thoracic epidural abscess and reviewm of surgical options for extensive spinal epidural abscesses. J Clin Neurosci 15:483–486CrossRefPubMed

Nussbaum ES, Rigamonti D, Standiford H, Numaguchi Y, Wolf AL, Robinson WL (1992) Spinal epidural abscess: a report of 40 cases and review. Surg Neurol 38:225–231CrossRefPubMed

Simopoulos TT, Kraemer JJ, Glazer P, Bajwa ZH (2008) Vertebral osteomyelitis: a potentially catastrophic outcome after lumbar epidural steroid injection. Pain Physician 11:693–697PubMed

10.

Sendi P, Bregenzer T, Zimmerli W (2008) Spinal epidural abscess in clinical practice. QJM 101:1–12CrossRefPubMed

11.

Kaufman DM, Kaplan JG, Litman N (1980) Infectious agents in spinal epidural abscess. Neurology 30:844–850PubMed

12.

Kannangara DW, Tanaka T, Thadepalli H (1981) Spinal epidural abscess due to Actinomyces israelii. Neurology 31:202–204PubMed

13.

Allison L, Harvey JM, Lisa O (1998) A case of Nocardia epidural abscess. J Emerg Med 16:579–581

14.

Bodelier AG, Groeneveld W, van der Linden AN, Haak HR (2004) Symptomatic epidural lipomatosis in ectopic Cushing’s syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol 151:765–769CrossRefPubMed

15.

Maillot F, Mulleman D, Mammou S, Goupille P, Valat JP (2006) Is epidural lipomatosis associated with abnormality of body fat distribution? A case report. Eur Spine J 15:105–108CrossRefPubMed

16.

Koch CA, Doppman JL, Watson JC, Patronas NJ, Nieman LK (1999) Spinal epidural lipomatosis in a patient with the ectopic corticotropin syndrome. N Engl J Med 341:1399–1400CrossRefPubMed

17.

Frank E (1998) Endoscopic suction decompression of idiopathic epidural lipomatosis. Surg Neurol 50:333–335CrossRefPubMed

18.

Cauchois R, Laccourreye O, Rotenberg M, Carnot F, Menard M, Brasnu D (1995) Intrinsic infiltrating intramuscular laryngeal lipoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 112:777–779CrossRefPubMed

19.

Verner EF, Musher DM (1985) Spinal epidural abscess, symposium on infections of central nervous systems. Med Clinic North Am 69:375–384

Title: Acute spinal cord compression due to epidural lipomatosis complicated by an abscess: magnetic resonance and pathology findings
Authors: Giulio Zuccoli
Nicolò Pipitone
Nicola De Carli
Luigi Vecchia
Stefano C. Bartoletti
Publication date: 01-07-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Spine Journal / Issue Special Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-010-1393-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Acute spinal cord compression due to epidural lipomatosis complicated by an abscess: magnetic resonance and pathology findings

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Special Issue 2/2010

Pathological dislocation of the dorsal spine following granulocytic sarcoma in a non-leukaemic patient

The single transoral approach for Os odontoideum with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation

Cervical synovial cyst: case report and review of literature

Late-onset post-diskectomy tuberculosis at the same operated lumbar level: case report and review of literature

Image fusion for preoperative evaluation of vertebral artery in a patient with atlantoaxial vertical subluxation and chronic renal failure

Left iliac artery injury during anterior lumbar spine surgery diagnosed by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring