J Korean Soc Emerg Med.
2004 Aug;15(4):289-293.
Nontraumatic Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Korea. cocahite@kornet.net
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Korea.
Abstract
- Nontraumatic spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare entity, which can be associated with a severe neurologic deficit. The presenting symptoms are usually back or neck pain, either local or radicular, followed by progressive bilateral weakness, and sensory loss hours and even days later. In the absence of precipitating factors such as severe trauma or known coagulopathy, the diagnosis may be delayed. Imaging, including cervical CT or MRI, may play
an essential role for the prompt diagnosis and differentiation from other cervical pathologies. With a full review of the literature, we report and discuss a case of nontraumatic cervical epidural hematoma in which a 67-year-old female visited the emergency center for neck and right shoulder pain. She experienced a complete recovery after conservative treatment only.