Spinal epidural hematoma: an important stroke mimic

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is, on occasion, given to patients who do not suffer from acute cerebral ischemia. As the underlying conditions often mistaken for acute ischemic stroke tend to produce transient dysfunction, and are generally seen in individuals younger than stroke patients, the outcome of such mistaken treatment is generally benign. We will describe two elderly patients with acute hemiparesis caused by spinal epidural hematomas (SEDH), both of whom were initially considered candidates for tPA. The literature review and discussion will emphasize features allowing the distinction between these unusual hemiparetic presentations of SEDH and acute brain ischemia, and briefly review other cervical lesions that may rarely present with hemiparesis.