Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McLendon, RE; Oakes, WJ; Heinz, ER; Yeates, AE; Burger, PC
Published in: Neurosurgery
May 1988

Adipose tissue in the filum terminale is frequently associated with tethering of the spinal cord in patients with spina bifida occulta. We recently saw a patient with low back pain and no spina bifida occulta, in whom adipose tissue was noted in the area of the filum on an unenhanced computed tomographic (CT) scan. The patient had a tethered cord. This case suggested that, when CT scanning is done as the first imaging study in the evaluation of low back pain, fatty tissue in the area of the filum may be an indicator for tethering of the spinal cord. The present study was undertaken to determine the validity of using CT scan-detectable filal fat in the identification of possible tethered spinal cords among a group of patients experiencing low back pain. The presence of fat in the fila of 12 patients with the radiologically and histologically tethered cord syndrome was evaluated and the fila of 47 autopsied patients whose clinical history showed no back pain were examined histologically. There were accumulations of adipose tissue in the fila of 11 of the 12 (91%) patients with the tethered cord syndrome and in the fila of 9 of the 47 patients (17%) in the autopsy series. Of the 9 autopsy patients with fat in their fila, however only 3 patients (6%) exhibited collections of adipose tissue in the CT detection range (2 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurosurgery

ISSN

0148-396X

Publication Date

May 1988

Volume

22

Issue

5

Start / End Page

873 / 876

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Syndrome
  • Spinal Cord Diseases
  • Spina Bifida Occulta
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Cauda Equina
  • Back Pain
  • Aged, 80 and over
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
McLendon, R. E., Oakes, W. J., Heinz, E. R., Yeates, A. E., & Burger, P. C. (1988). Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord. Neurosurgery, 22(5), 873–876.
McLendon, R. E., W. J. Oakes, E. R. Heinz, A. E. Yeates, and P. C. Burger. “Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord.Neurosurgery 22, no. 5 (May 1988): 873–76.
McLendon RE, Oakes WJ, Heinz ER, Yeates AE, Burger PC. Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord. Neurosurgery. 1988 May;22(5):873–6.
McLendon, R. E., et al. “Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord.Neurosurgery, vol. 22, no. 5, May 1988, pp. 873–76.
McLendon RE, Oakes WJ, Heinz ER, Yeates AE, Burger PC. Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord. Neurosurgery. 1988 May;22(5):873–876.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurosurgery

ISSN

0148-396X

Publication Date

May 1988

Volume

22

Issue

5

Start / End Page

873 / 876

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Syndrome
  • Spinal Cord Diseases
  • Spina Bifida Occulta
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Cauda Equina
  • Back Pain
  • Aged, 80 and over