J Neuroradiology
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The role played by the epidural fat has been reported in lipomatosis induced by exogenous glucocorticoids and in severe obesity with lipomatosis. The role played by the "normal" posterior epidural fat (PEF) in lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) is less well known. The purpose of this study was to determine the part taken by PEF in LCS patients without endocrine disease, corticosteroid therapy or obesity. ⋯ Most patients were suffering from lumbar pain, radiculopathy and/or neurogenic intermittent claudication. The data measured were: antero-posterior (AP) diameter of the dural sac, AP diameter of the bony lumbar canal (BLC), interligamentous distance (ILD) opposite the articular facets, and surface of PEF. The soft elements present on the midline--anterior epidural space (AES) and posterior epidural (PEF)--were expressed as percentage of the AP diameter of the bony lumbar canal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)