Idiopathic Thoracic Epidural Lipomatosis with Chest Pain.

Lee, Sang Beom; Park, Hyung Ki; Chang, Jae Chil; Jin, So Young

doi:2011.50.2.130

Case Report

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 2011;50(2): 130-133.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2011.50.2.130

Idiopathic Thoracic Epidural Lipomatosis with Chest Pain.

Sang Beom Lee, Hyung Ki Park, Jae Chil Chang, So Young Jin

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. phk007@schmc.ac.kr
²Department of Pathology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is an overgrowth of the normally encapsulated adipose tissue in the epidural space around the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar spine causing compression of the neural components. Idiopathic SEL in non-obese patients is exceptional. Idiopathic SEL can result in thoracic myelopathy and lumbar radiculopathy. A thoracic radiculopathy due to idiopathic SEL has not been reported yet. We report a case of idiopathic SEL with intractable chest pain and paresthesia. We suggest that idiopathic SEL should be considered as a cause of chest pain.

Key Words: Spinal; Idiopathic; Epidural; Lipomatosis; Thoracic; Chest pain