title: The importance of posterior epidural fat pad in lumbar central canal stenosis.
abstract: Ninety-three patients with lumbar central canal stenosis were prospectively evaluated to determine whether the posterior epidural fat was an important component in the pathogenesis of thecal sac compression. Results of this study indicated that, in patients with acquired stenosis secondary to facet arthrosis, posterior compression of the thecal sac by epidural fat was identified. This finding was not observed in patients with stenosis secondary to anterior column pathology or in patients with developmentally large facets.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Neuro Skeletal Imaging Center, Daly City, California.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Saal
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Saal
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*