Early Diagnosis of Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma with Echo-Planar Gradient-Echo T2*-Weighted MR Imaging

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare idiopathic condition that leads to the acute onset of neurological deficits, which can have catastrophic consequences if not recognized early. It is important to make an early precise diagnosis. Spinal epidural hematoma has been increasingly recognized since the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, T1- and T2-weighted gradient-echo sequences are relatively less sensitive to the magnetic susceptibility effects of hemorrhage. Echo-planar gradient-echo T2*-weighted MR imaging (T2* MRI) is sensitive to these magnetic susceptibility effects and is commonly used for the detection of hemorrhage. We reported that the case of a 76-year-old man who presented with tetra paresis had an early diagnosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma early diagnosed by T2* MRI.