Intracranial lipomas are thought to arise from abnormal differentiation of the meninx primativa. The meninx normally produces the pia and arachnoid.

Intracranial and other CNS lipomas are usually midline, with the corpus callosum and the pineal region being common locations in the head. In the spine, the filum terminale is the most common site.

Intracranial lipomas are usually soft masses with little or no growth potential. Therefore, they may be found as an "incidental" lesion on MR and CT.