Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma with unusual hemiparesis alternating from one side to the other side

Intern Med. 2009;48(18):1703-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.48.2493. Epub 2009 Sep 15.

Abstract

A 59-year-old woman suffered from sudden onset of severe neck and back pain. She experienced right-side hemiparesis. Although the right-side hemiparesis soon disappeared, left-side hemiparesis developed. MRI of the brain was unremarkable. MRI of the cervical spine demonstrated hematoma in the left posterior epidural space at the C2/3 level. The spinal cord was compressed not only by a degenerative disc of the ventral region, but also by hematomas of the dorsal region. The unusual hemiparesis alternating from right-side to left-side in this case may have been caused by various factors, including cervical canal stenosis, the spread of hematoma, disturbance of blood flow, and distribution of stress and strain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Cervical Vertebrae
  • Female
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / complications
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / etiology*
  • Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Paresis / etiology*
  • Paresis / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
  • Time Factors