Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2011 May 12:2011:bcr0220113875.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.02.2011.3875.

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma due to arteriovenous malformation in a child

António Jorge Cabral  1 , Andreia Barros, Cristina Aveiro, Rui Vasconcelos
Affiliations
Case Reports

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma due to arteriovenous malformation in a child

António Jorge Cabral et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare clinical entity, especially in infants, in whom only a few cases have been reported. In a paediatric emergency setting, SSEH should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for acute extremity weakness and paraesthesia. Epidural vascular malformations are often suspected in these cases but have rarely been demonstrated. The authors report herein a case of SSEH in a 9-year-old boy arising from an epidural vascular malformation. He initially presented with sudden intense cervicodorsal pain followed by hypotonic lower extremities and progressive motor weakness, with no sensory change. The MRI showed an acute extradural haematoma extending from C7 to T4 with compression of the spinal cord. After submission to decompression surgery, he presented full recovery in 1 month. The histopathological analysis revealed a vascular malformation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MRI sagittal T1-weighed images: left posterolateral extradural isointense mass spanning C4 to T7 vertebral segments (arrow) and appears inhomogeneous with compression of the spinal cord.
Figure 2
Figure 2
MRI axial T1-weighed: compression of the spinal cord that is displaced anteriorly and to the right by the mass (arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Groen RJ, van Alphen HA. Operative treatment of spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas: a study of the factors determining postoperative outcome. Neurosurgery 1996;39:494–508; discussion 508–9 - PubMed
    1. Holtås S, Heiling M, Lönntoft M. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: findings at MR imaging and clinical correlation. Radiology 1996;199:409–13 - PubMed
    1. Aksay E, Kiyan S, Yuruktumen A, et al. A rare diagnosis in emergency department: spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. Am J Emerg Med 2008;26:835, e3–5 - PubMed
    1. Riaz S, Jiang H, Fox R, et al. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma causing Brown-Sequard syndrome: case report and review of the literature. J Emerg Med 2007;33:241–4 - PubMed
    1. Foo D, Rossier AB. Preoperative neurological status in predicting surgical outcome of spinal epidural hematomas. Surg Neurol 1981;15:389–401 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms