Spinal thoracic extradural angiolipoma manifesting as acute onset of paraparesis: Case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Angiolipomas are benign tumors most commonly found in the thoracic spine. They are composed of mature adipocytes and abnormal vascular elements that usually present with a slowly progressive course of neurological deterioration. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old female, with a prior history of back pain, acutely developed paraparesis. When the thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a dorsal epidural mass at the T3-T5 level, she underwent a laminectomy for gross total excision of the lesion that proved to be an angiolipoma. On the second postoperative day, the patient was again able to ambulate. CONCLUSION: The angiolipomas of spine are rare causes of spinal cord compression, and those presenting with acute neurological deficits should be immediately treated.