title: Thoracic spinal epidural angiolipoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal angiolipoma is a benign uncommon neoplasm composed of mature lipocytes admixed with abnormal blood vessels, and accounts for only 0.14-1.2% of all spinal tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report two cases of a 64-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man with thoracic myelopathy due to spinal angiolipoma. Magnetic resonance imaging showed isointensity on T1-weighted imaging and hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging and enhance with gadolinium administration. In one case, angiography elucidated the vascularity of the tumor and the relationship with concomitant hemangioma. Laminoplasty was performed to achieve tumor resection, and the postoperative course was uneventful with neurological improvement. Histopathological examination of the resected tumors revealed angiolipomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although extremely rare, thoracic spinal epidural angiolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thoracic spinal lesions. Prognosis after surgical management of this lesion is favorable. Angiography was useful for preoperative evaluation of vascularity and the relationship with concomitant tumors.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization, Osaka Minami Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kawachinagano, Osaka, Japan. mld03108@nifty.com
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaito
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takenaka
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonenobu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018206:Angiolipoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D015174:Epidural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology