title: Acute Cervical Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma Presenting with Minimal Neurological Deficits: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon but potentially fatal condition. The increased bleeding tendency associated with anticoagulant medications has been proven to increase the risk of SSEH. The symptoms of SSEH usually begin with sudden severe neck or back pain and are followed by neurological deficits. However, some cases present with only axial pain or with radicular pain similar to herniated disc disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 28-year-old healthy man developed a sudden onset of severe neck and right shoulder pain with mild arm weakness. The MRI revealed an SSEH that was compressing his spinal cord in the right posterolateral epidural space from C2-C6. On the second hospital day, his symptoms suddenly improved, and most of the hematoma had spontaneously resolved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, the incidence of SSEH is expected to increase. Pain physicians must include SSEH in their differential diagnosis for patients with axial pain or radicular symptoms alone, particularly when risk factors are present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Jeju National University Hospital, School of medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jisoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer engineering, College of engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Jeju National University Hospital, School of medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: You-Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, School of medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, School of medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Cervical; Epidural Hematoma; Spinal