title: Tumor or hematoma? : An unusual case of an extradural lesion of the lumbar spine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare clinical entity. We present a case of atypical contrast enhancement pattern in a chronic epidural hematoma of the lumbar spine mimicking an extradural tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 76-year-old man on treatment with oral anticoagulants presented with a 1-month history of lower back pain radiating into his right upper thigh accompanied by spinal claudication. Preoperative MRI showed a posterior epidural lesion compressing the cauda equina with almost homogeneous contrast enhancement. Surgery was performed under the presumptive diagnosis of spinal extradural neoplasm. Intraoperative and histological findings were consistent with a chronic spinal epidural hematoma. Postoperatively, the patient had instant relief of his symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic spinal epidural hematoma may resemble an extradural tumor, requiring surgery for histological confirmation and decompression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland, marian.neidert@usz.ch.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Neidert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prömmel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuknecht
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sürücü
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome