A DUMBBELL SPINAL LIPOMA PRESENTING AS A NECK MASS - CT AND MR DEMONSTRATION

A case of histologically confirmed spinal lipoma without associated sp inal dysraphism is presented. This tumor appeared lobulated, extending through an enlarged neuroforamen to form a so-called dumbbell tumor. In a review of the Literature, there were found to be only four case r eports of a dumbbell spinal lipoma. Our case was unique in that it man ifested as a neck mass without neurological deficits. The fatty nature of the tumor allowed easy detection by computed tomography (CT), as w ell as by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR is judged to be superior to CT for preoperative planning by virtue of its superb intraspinal r esolution and multiplanar capability, and should be the procedure of c hoice for evaluating spinal lipomas.