Acute spinal cord compression due to epidural lipomatosis complicated by an abscess: magnetic resonance and pathology findings

Eur Spine J. 2010 Jul;19 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S216-9. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1393-y. Epub 2010 Apr 6.

Abstract

A 68-year-old male presented with rapidly progressive paraplegia. MR images of the thoracic spine were interpreted as being consistent with an abscess within an epidural lipomatosis compressing the spinal cord. Laminectomy was performed, and a large amount of pus was drained from the epidural lipomatosis, from which Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. This is the first reported case of an abscess involving an epidural lipomatosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / complications
  • Abscess / microbiology
  • Abscess / pathology*
  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Lipomatosis / complications
  • Lipomatosis / microbiology
  • Lipomatosis / pathology*
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord Compression / microbiology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology*
  • Spinal Diseases / complications
  • Spinal Diseases / microbiology
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Staphylococcal Infections / pathology*
  • Treatment Outcome