[MR imaging of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma]

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is a rare entity. Sudden onset of nuchal or back pain is a common presentation. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult because of its non-specific symptomatology. Irreversible neurological deficits of spinal cord may result, due to delay in initiating proper treatment. We present two cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, one in the cervical and the other in the thoracic spine. MR imaging was helpful to confirm the diagnosis and for pre-surgical planning. Both patients were treated surgically and the MR findings confirmed. MR imaging accurately localized and characterized the epidural lesions. We stress that MR imaging is a valuable examination for the diagnosis of spinal epidural hematoma.