ArticleJournal of neurosurgery. Case lessons2026
Resolution of severe lumbar spinal epidural lipomatosis following tirzepatide-induced weight loss: illustrative case.
Article in Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Progressive Spastic Paraparesis Caused by Thoracic Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: A Case Report and Systematic Review.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Pooled it
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSpinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is a rare disorder characterized by pathological accumulation of adipose tissue in the spinal epidural space, leading to signs and symptoms of lumbar stenosis. SEL is increasingly linked to obesity, and treatment requires surgical decompression if conservative measures fail. The role of modern pharmacological weight-loss agents in reversing SEL has not been previously described. OBSERVATIONS: A 35-year-old man with severe, symptomatic lumbar SEL and class II obesity (BMI 37.8 kg/m) presented with progressive neurogenic claudication and functional decline. MRI revealed multilevel lumbar SEL with severe spinal stenosis. After counseling, the patient initiated tirzepatide therapy and achieved approximately 60 pounds of weight loss within 1 year. This was accompanied by marked symptom resolution and near-complete regression of epidural fat on repeat MRI, negating the need for surgical intervention. LESSONS: This case demonstrates that pharmacological weight loss with agents such as tirzepatide may offer a viable, nonoperative alternative for patients with obesity-related SEL, particularly those who are not ideal surgical candidates. Validation in larger studies is needed to assess long-term efficacy and help guide patient selection for pharmacological versus surgical approaches. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE25886.
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