Lipomatosis in the spinal cord | Lipomatosis

Lipomatosis in the spinal cord

Lipomatoses that occur in the spinal cord can, depending on their location, compress nerves and nerve roots and thus lead to neurological symptoms. By means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the spread of lipomas can be detected and the diagnosis confirmed. To avoid pressure damage to compressed nerves and to improve the symptoms, symptomatic lipomas of the spinal cord can be removed by microsurgery.

Lipomatosis of the thigh

Lipomatosis can also be noticeable on the thigh, although the thighs are not among the most common sites of this type of fat tissue proliferation. Here, too, there is an increase in the circumference of the thigh and the development of fat aprons, also known as riding pants on the thigh. Often, however, the increase in fatty tissue on the legs is not due to lipomatosis but to lipedema.

This is an increase in fat, preferably on the hips and legs, which occurs mainly in women. Hormonal causes are suspected. However, if it is a case of lipomatosis of the thigh, the therapy usually consists of fat reduction by suction or cutting away, whereby the symptoms usually recur.

Intraspinal lipomatosis

Intraspinal lipomatosis is a very rare disease caused by benign tumors of the fatty tissue in the spinal canal. Intraspinal means that the lipomas lie within the spinal canal in the spinal cord. Intraspinal lipomas occur spontaneously, usually without symptoms and are only discovered and diagnosed by chance.

Normally, lipomas within the spinal canal do not require treatment. However, depending on its location, a lipoma in the spinal canal can also cause symptoms. Sometimes nerves or the spinal cord have grown into the fat tumor, causing symptoms. In such cases, the lipoma is surgically removed or, if complete removal is not possible, the size of the fat accumulation is reduced. Intraspinal lipomatoses are sometimes also associated with obesity and overweight, so weight loss can improve symptoms.

Epidural Lipomatosis

The epidural space is a gap in the spinal cord formed by the spinal membranes and filled with fatty and connective tissue. The fatty tissue serves to cushion the spinal cord in the spinal canal. In rare cases, lipomas form here and are referred to as spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL).

The disease can progress without symptoms or, due to nerve compression, lead to muscle weakness, reduced nerve conduction velocity or sensitivity disorders. A connection between SEL and obesity is suspected. Depending on the degree of severity, therapy is carried out by surgical removal of the fat tumors or by weight reduction.