Steroid Induced Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis-An Imaging Diagnosis
Published: January 1, 2020 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2020/42604.13426
Shibani Mehra, Harshita Tripathi, Umesh Garga
1. Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
2. Senior Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
3. Senior Resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, PGIMER Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Correspondence
Dr. Shibani Mehra,
C1/36, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016, India.
E-mail: shibani.mehra@yahoo.in
Spinal epidural lipomatosis is a rare condition that occurs due to pathological overgrowth of normal spinal extradural fat with subsequent canal narrowing and cord impingement. The condition may be idiopathic or iatrogenic. A strong aetiological association with prolonged exogenous steroid administration has been described. On the other hand, obesity is known to be a cause of idiopathic spinal epidural lipomatosis. We present the radiological picture that led to the diagnosis of iatrogenic epidural lipomatosis induced by exogenous steroid administration in young child post-meningitis. Present case is unusual because exogenous steroid administration that led to abnormal fat proliferation was one time for a short duration of less than a week, unlike other cases reported in literature where epidural lipomatosis has developed in patients on long term steroid therapy.
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