Abstract
Superficial siderosis (SS) of the central nervous system is a rare disorder caused
by chronic or recurrent hemorrhages into the subarachnoid space with hemosiderin and
ferritin deposition, which leads to neuronal damage. The source of bleeding remains
unknown in 50% of cases. Recently, attention has been focused on fluid-filled collection
in the spinal canal, suggesting the presence of a dural defect which may be the bleeding
point.
We present a patient with SS and spinal extradural fluid collection due to midthoracic
dural defect with spinal cord herniation. The reduction of the spinal cord herniation
and the repair of the dural defect resulted in the disappearance of the fluid collection
and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. The case here reported is, to our knowledge,
the first case of spinal cord herniation presenting with SS and confirms the key role
played by dural lacerations in the pathogenesis of both SS and spinal cord herniation.
The search for dural lacerations should be one of the primary aims in patients with
SS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 25, 2011
Accepted:
July 20,
2011
Received in revised form:
June 22,
2011
Received:
April 18,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
