[Spontaneous epidural spinal hematoma: report of 2 cases and review of the literature].

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon cause of cord compression. This lesion has been correlated with some precipitant factors, but frequently is idiopathic. It's a unusual process, more uncommon in children, and there are only 350 cases reported in the literature. Etiology is unknown and there are several theories about it. The clinical presentation is remarkably uniform, with local back and radicular pain followed by sensory and motor disfunction. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for the functional recovery of the patient. In this article, the literature is reviewed, especially the etiological and therapeutic aspects, and two new cases are reported. These cases can help to define the etiology of this entity.