Recurrent idiopathic epidural hematoma: a case report.

Spinal epidural hematoma is a relatively rare condition in children. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented to a regional hospital with the complaints of severe thoracic back pain, neck stiffness, and gait disturbance of sudden onset. Clinical examination revealed no obvious cause for the symptoms. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of an epidural mass lesion extending from T1 to T3, compressing the spinal cord; the findings suggested a diagnosis of idiopathic spinal epidural hematoma. Twelve days after admission, the patient was transferred to our hospital for further observation. Blood tests, including a coagulation profile, were normal. At 22 days after the initial presentation, repeat MRI revealed resolution of the hematoma, with the mass showing an appreciable decrease in size. The patient became symptom-free and was walking normally at the time of discharge 28 days after her initial presentation. At 59 days after the initial presentation, she was readmitted with complaints of a sudden recurrence of back pain and weakness of both legs. Repeat MRI at this time revealed reappearance of the spinal epidural hematoma at the same level. Operative evacuation of the hematoma was performed 3 days after the diagnosis of the recurrence, with laminoplasty from T1 to T3. At a clinical review conducted 30 months after the operation, the patient remained symptom-free. Idiopathic resolution of a spinal epidural hematoma has previously been reported in 36 patients. However, we found no record in the literature of any case in which an epidural hematoma recurred following earlier MRI-confirmed idiopathic resolution.