title: Intramedullary lipoma of the cervicodorsal spinal cord with intracranial extension: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An unusual case of an extensive intramedullary lipoma of the cervicodorsal spinal cord with intracranial extension causing compression of spinal cord and brainstem is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-year-old child with lack of limb movement since birth, the cause of which had remained obscure, developed opisthotonos and episodes of severe respiratory difficulty with brief periods of apnea. Craniospinal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were diagnostic of lipoma. Urgent occipitocervical decompression and subtotal removal of the posterior fossa and cervical spinal cord lipoma resulted in lasting resolution of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extensive spinal cord lipomas with intracranial extension can present with alarming spinal cord/medullary compression and respiratory symptoms. Computed tomographic scan and MRI are diagnostic. Total removal is not feasible, or necessary, because subtotal removal and decompression give long-lasting resolution of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.lastname: Naim-ur-Rahman
authors.forename: Abdul Hameed
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shahat
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Obaideen
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Shakeel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed