[A case of repeated hematomyelia caused by cavernous hemangioma in the spinal cord]

A case is reported of repeated hematomyelia caused by cavernous hemangioma in the spinal cord. A 47-year-old woman first noticed a sudden onset of numbness in her thigh and then it gradually disappeared. Four months after the onset, she began to experience weakness and numbness in both of her legs, and difficulty in voiding and defecating. She recovered gradually for several months, but felt numbness in both legs. Myelography showed swelling at Th5 level. T2-weighted MRI showed a reticulated core of mixed intensity with rims of decreased intensity. During the subsequent operation, a dark brown lesion was detected at Th5 level, which consisted of multicystic cavities with old hematoma. But there were no abnormal vessels, or active bleeding. This lesion was almost completely removed and was diagnosed as cavernous hemangioma.