Nondysraphic cervical and thoracic intraspinal lipomas: a review.
BACKGROUND
Intraspinal lipomas are commonly seen in the lumbosacral area. A cervical and thoracic location is very rarely encountered. Management of these lesions is still controversial.


METHODS
We report a series of 8 such patients, who were surgically managed at our institute.


RESULTS
All the patients were adults (mean age-34 years). Subcutaneous lipomas were seen in two patients. None of the 8 patients were obese. Mean duration of symptoms was 484 days. The Nurick's grade at the time of presentation ranged from 3 to 5. All 8 patients underwent partial decompression. Only 1 patient required repeat surgery after 11 years. All the patients reported improvement or stabilization of symptoms at follow-up (mean 56.3 months). The Nurick's grading at the time of follow-up ranged from 1 to 4.


CONCLUSIONS
A cervical or thoracic location is extremely rare among intraspinal lipomas. Patients usually present with a long duration of symptoms. Complete excision is extremely difficult and likely to be detrimental. Partial decompression usually leads to good improvement.
Pruthi
Nupur
N
Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Devi
B I
BI
D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome