Dorsal extradural lipoma as cause of spinal claudication. Case report and review of the literature.

Extradural spinal lipomas are rare tumorous lesions. "True adult lipomas" have to be histologically differentiated from angiolipomas. The authors describe a case of segmental dorsal lipomas in the lower lumbar spine which led to a clinical apparent spinal claudication. Having reviewed the literature this case is the first ever described. In this case MRI was the diagnostic tool of choice. The tumor could be removed completely via interarcual laminotomy and flavectomy. The clinical outcome was excellent. In differential diagnosis of a spinal claudication this rare cause should be kept in mind when typical osseous changes are absent.