Spinal epidural lipomatosis: a rare condition with unclear etiology

Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis (SEL) is a pathology characterized by the overgrowth of adipose tissue normally present in the extradural space within the spinal canal. Some authors report pain and neurological symptoms due to spinal cord or dural sac compression (inserire bibliografia). It is most commonly reported in patients receiving chronic glucocor¬ticoid therapy, associated with endogenous steroid overproduction or obesity, finally an idiopathic process has been proposed (per ogni causa inserire bibliografia) [16-7]. Most of the cases are reported in obese male patients (bibliografia). Hereby the case of a 60-years-old obese woman affected by idiopathic SEL at L3-L5 levels causing progressive worsening of the symptoms has been reported. Surgical decompression through posterior laminectomy and excision of epidural fat resulted in recovery. After a literature review it results that most of the patients underwent surgical decompression otherwise than conservative treatment, perhaps these patients were affected by pain or radiculopathy.