{"id":"ff036aa0-b68f-4896-b9b3-5977b7af4295","slug":"spontaneous-cervicothoracic-epidural-misinterpreted-as-transient-ischemic-attack-tia","title":"Spontaneous cervicothoracic epidural misinterpreted as transient ischemic attack (TIA)","authors":["Sandeep Bhardwaj","Manish Chaurasiya","Sunit Shah"],"abstract":"Background: The acute onset of a spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon cause of spinal cord compression. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to avoid significant residual postoperative neurological deficits. Case Description: A 15-year-old male presented with the sudden onset of a hemiparesis which recovered (4/5 weakness). The brain MR was negative, but spinal MRI revealed a dorsolateral extradural lesion extending from C7 to D1. At surgery, this proved to be a hematoma that we readily removed. Conclusion: Spontaneous epidural hematomas are rare. They should be diagnosed promptly with MR, and typically warrant urgent/emergent surgical excision. Further, cases of SSEH resulting in hemiparesis may occasionally be misdiagnosed as attributed to a stroke or transient ischemic attack.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/ff036aa0-b68f-4896-b9b3-5977b7af4295/featured/hero-cropped-1781561672081.jpg","publishDate":"2022-01-20T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_1224_2021","categories":["Spine","Case Report"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/ff036aa0-b68f-4896-b9b3-5977b7af4295/pdf"}