title: Epidural lipomatosis with cauda equina syndrome in chronic alcoholic patient: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidural lipomatosis of the lumbar spine is a rare condition, which is described as the accumulation of fat in the extradural territory.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 60-year-old, non-obese, and chronic alcoholic man who was transferred to our spine department with cauda equina syndrome (CES) for 4 months. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) was confirmed in the multilevel lumbar lesion. A decompression surgery was performed and the patient recovered significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient was not obese, had no abnormal liver laboratory test results, and no history of steroid injection or administration. The clinical signs at onset suggested bilateral lower cauda equina dysfunction, indicating a more diffuse involvement, consistent with lumbosacral epidural lipomatosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case report is the first description of SEL in a non-obese, chronic alcoholic patient who was neither receiving steroids nor had any kind of endocrinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Center, Haeundae-paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul Spine Institute, Sanggye-paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: scd25@paik.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lim
keywords: Cauda equina syndrome; Chronic alcoholism; Epidural lipomatosis