title: Symptomatic spinal epidural lipomatosis as a complication of steroid immunosuppression in cardiac transplant patients. Report of two cases.
abstract: Patients with Cushing's syndrome may develop spinal epidural lipomatosis, an abnormal accumulation of fat in the spinal epidural space. This accumulation of fat may cause compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina with resulting neurological deficit. Two cases of symptomatic spinal lipomatosis are reported in cardiac transplant patients receiving chronic corticosteroid treatment. The literature is reviewed, and diagnostic and therapeutic considerations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Zampella
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Duvall
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sekar
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kirklin
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Morawetz
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D004824:Epidural Space; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008068:Lipomatosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009192:Myelography; D013115:Spinal Canal; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents