title: Nondysraphic intramedullary spinal cord lipomas: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipomas of the spinal cord are often a component of spinal dysraphic states. Nondysraphic intramedullary spinal cord lipomas are rare, and their presentation, in the form of gradually worsening myelopathy, is nonspecific. The authors report on the methods used for diagnosis and treatment in patients presenting with these lesions at their institution, and they review the relevant literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors treated 14 patients who presented with intramedullary lipomas over a period of 12 years. None of these patients had segmentation anomaly or dysraphism of the spine, or any hindbrain anomaly. Admission magnetic resonance images were diagnostic in all patients. All tumors were located dorsally in the spinal cord, the majority of them in the cervicodorsal cord. The lipomas were partially excised with the help of a carbon dioxide laser in all patients in an attempt to preserve neurological function. All patients attained improvement in their sensory and motor symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because these lesions do not have a clear-cut margin, it is vital to preserve neurological function at the time of surgery, even if it entails incomplete resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Army Hospital, Research & Referral, Delhi Cantt, India. hsbhatoe@indiatimes.com
authors.forename: Harjinder Singh
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bhatoe
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Aarti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sahai
authors.forename: Vibha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sahoo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*