[Spinal extradural angiolipoma: a case report].

Growth of angiolipoma of the central nervous system is a rare occurrence. Only about 40 cases can be collected in the literature. A 67-year-old man was admitted because of intermittent severe pain in both legs after walking. He had chillness in both legs during the past 5 years which gradually worsened. MR image showed a spinal mass lesion at the level of Th12 to L1. The lesion was isointense on T1-weighted image and slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted image. The tumor was located on the left side of the spinal cord and was markedly enhanced after intravenous Gd-DTPA. At the operation, a soft, dark-red mass was found situated in the epidural space at the level of Th12 to L1, which was totally removed. On histological examination, the tumor was shown to be mainly composed of mature fatty cells and of numerous blood vessels with enlarged lumens. Postoperative course was uneventful and the symptoms subsided during the following few months.