title: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma as the initial presentation of leukemia.
abstract: We present a case of a 55-year-old male with progressive neurological deficits that appeared dramatically. MRI detected a spinal epidural hematoma at the cervicothoracic junction and blood tests showed leukocytosis, mild anemia, and thrombocytosis. Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) as the initial presentation of leukemia was diagnosed. Urgent posterior decompression was performed after 28 h from acute onset of backache, and the patient experienced remarkable improvement in neurological findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Saisei Hospital, 800-1 Kashiwai-cho, Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, Japan. hnojiri@juntendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojiri
authors.forename: Sungdo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uta
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate