Spinal Epidural Angiolipoma

Spinal epidural angiolipoma (SEA) is a rare benign vascular and lipomatous tumor with predominant vascular component. Clinically, it is located often in the mid-thoracic region. The symptoms are principally pain and progressive paraparesia. SEA are classified in two types: noninfiltrating SEA generally arising from the posterior epidural space and, less frequently infiltrating SEA which arise from the anterior or antero-lateral epidural space and usually involves the local tissues. On MRI, most SEA show iso- or hyperintensity on T1-weighted images, hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and enhancement with gadolinium injection. The treatment is total surgical resection and no adjuvant radiation therapy should be administrated. The prognosis, even in infiltrating SEA, is excellent.