Cerebral stroke mimics associated with spinal vascular disease: two case reports

Several diseases produce symptoms similar to those of a cerebral stroke, resulting in their misdiagnosis as stroke. Cerebral stroke mimics are common in emergency rooms. We report two cases of cerebral stroke mimics to attract the attention of clinicians, especially emergency room doctors. In one case, a patient with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) exhibited lower-right limb numbness and weakness. In the other, a patient with spinal cord infarction (SCI) had numbness and weakness of the lower-left limb. Both cases were misdiagnosed as cerebral strokes in the emergency room. One of the patients underwent hematoma removal surgery, and the other received medical treatment for spinal cord infarction. Patients' symptoms improved, but the sequelae remained. Single-limb numbness and weakness are an uncommon initial presentation of spinal vascular disease that can lead to its misdiagnosis. When encountering single-limb numbness and weakness, it is necessary to consider the differential diagnosis of spinal vascular disease, thereby reducing misdiagnosis.