PROPELLER diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of acute spinal epidural hematoma.

We present the case of an 86-year-old female with spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma. Although T1- and T2-weighted images showed the dilated posterior epidural space at the cervical spine, this finding was non-specific on conventional magnetic resonance imaging obtained 15 h after the onset of symptoms. Diffusion-weighted imaging with the use of periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER), which clearly revealed the high intensity hematoma, was useful for detection and diagnosis of acute spinal epidural hematoma.