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Clinical course of spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome in a child: a case report and literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2004

Ertugrul Çakir
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Gökalp Karaarslan
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Haydar Usul
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Süleyman Baykal
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Kayhan Kuzeyli
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
İlke Mungan
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Ugur Yazar
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Bekircan Peksoylu
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Müjgan Aynaci
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Feraye Çakir
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
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Abstract

We describe a 9-year-old female with thoracic epidural haematoma. The clinical course simulated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) so intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was started at the paediatric clinic. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3 days after admission showed thoracic epidural haematoma between T2 and T8. An emergency laminectomy was performed and the patient's neurological symptoms began to improve immediately after surgery and she made a full recovery during the 2 weeks of follow-up. Time is a very important factor in achieving reversibility of symptoms of compressive cord lesions, such as spinal epidural haematoma, and MRI is mandatory for patients with progressive paraplegia, even though the signs and symptoms might suggest GBS.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
© 2004 Mac Keith Press

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