Thoracic Epidural lipomatosis is not uncommon to see but has a different appearance to Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis
With thoracic epidural lipomatosis there is excess fat accumulated in the epidural space.
There is an increased risk of developing epidural lipomatosis with:
- Chronic corticosteroid use.
- Cushing syndrome.
- Obesity.
- Epidural lipomatosis in the thoracic spine has a different appearance to Lumbar Epidural Lipomatosis.
- In the lumbar spine we look for a trefoil appearance of the thecal sac.
- However in the thoracic spine we look for Increased epidural fat.
- The fat accumulation is posterior and lateral.
- This results in the Cord being displaced anteriorly and thecal sac effaced.
- There is no trefoil appearance.
Posterior epidural fat measuring >6mm in AP diameter is abnormal.
- Epidural lipomatosis in the thoracic spine has a different appearance to Lumbar Epidural lipomatosis. (See Here)
- Look for increased fat in the epidural space and cord displacement.
We look at all of these topics in more detail in our SPINE MRI Mini Fellowships.
Click on the image below for more information.
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