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Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Published on: August 30, 2020
Spinal subarachnoid bleeding of unknown etiology. Case reports
A Ruelle1, D Zerbi, G Andrioli
1Department of Neurosurgery, Galliera Hospital, Genova, Italy. a.ruelle@galliera.it
Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences
|July 24, 2001
Summary
Spinal subarachnoid bleeding of unknown cause is rare. These cases suggest bleeding may have a benign course regardless of location, challenging previous assumptions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Spinal subarachnoid bleeding (SSAB) of unknown etiology is rare.
- Previous studies suggested SSAB subtypes based on location (dorsal vs. ventral) with differing prognoses.
- Dorsal bleeds were thought to cause severe spinal cord compression, while ventral bleeds were considered benign.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with spontaneous SSAB of unknown etiology.
- Both experienced sudden severe back pain without neurological deficits.
- One case involved ventral bleeding, the other dorsal bleeding.
Findings:
- Panspinal MRI and selective spinal angiography were used for diagnosis.
- Both patients were treated conservatively.
- Follow-up at 18-24 months showed no neurological deficits or rebleeding.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis requires panspinal MRI and angiography to exclude other causes.
- SSAB may be more common than reported, potentially due to underdiagnosis of minor symptoms.
- SSAB may have a benign course irrespective of its location around the spinal cord.
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