Antenatal diagnosis of spinal lipomas.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to highlight the key prenatal diagnostic features of fetal spinal lipomas.


RESULTS
All fetuses in whom a spinal lipoma was suspected prenatally or diagnosed postnatally were included in the study. Lumbosacral lipoma was diagnosed in 16 fetuses (group 1), but at birth 3 of these were found to have other forms of occult dysraphism. In 2 other fetuses (group 2) a meningocele was suspected but at birth these lesions were found to be lumbosacral lipomas. The lipomas were covering large meningoceles in 13 fetuses and filling the cul-de-sac in 2 others. Three sets of parents decided on termination. Of the 13 children born with a spinal lipoma, 9 were operated on and 4 were managed conservatively. At the last follow-up, 7 were neurologically intact.


CONCLUSIONS
The distinction between meningomyelocele and spinal lipoma is possible antenatally. The differential diagnosis between lipoma and the other forms of occult dysraphism is more difficult.
Thorne
A
A
Service de Neurochirurgie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France.
Pierre-Kahn
A
A
Sonigo
P
P
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008067:Lipoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*