Superficial siderosis due to a lumbar ependymoma mimicking adult-onset spinocerebellar ataxia

Abstract Superficial siderosis (SS), as a result of chronic subarachnoid haemorrhage and haemosiderin deposition on the leptomeninges and subpial layers of the brain, cerebellum and spinal cord, can cause ataxia, pyramidal tract lesions and hearing deficits. In cases with not pronounced hearing impa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical neurology and neurosurgery 2007-10, Vol.109 (8), p.705-707
Main Authors: Spengos, Konstantinos, Vassilopoulou, Sofia, Tsivgoulis, Georgios, Karachalios, Georgios, Vassilopoulos, Demetris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ataxia
Biological and medical sciences
Diagnosis, Differential
Ependymoma - complications
Gait disequilibrium
Gradient echo MRI
Hearing loss
Humans
Lumbar ependymoma
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Medical research
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neurosurgery
Siderosis - diagnosis
Siderosis - etiology
Spinal Cord Neoplasms - complications
Spinocerebellar ataxia
Spinocerebellar Ataxias - diagnosis
Superficial siderosis
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
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Summary:Abstract Superficial siderosis (SS), as a result of chronic subarachnoid haemorrhage and haemosiderin deposition on the leptomeninges and subpial layers of the brain, cerebellum and spinal cord, can cause ataxia, pyramidal tract lesions and hearing deficits. In cases with not pronounced hearing impairment adult-onset spinocereballar ataxia can be considered as a differential diagnostic alternative. We report a similar case where the diagnosis of SS was established by means of gradient echo MRI sequences 5 years after symptom onset. A bleeding lumbar ependymoma was identified as a source of haemorrhage. Surgical tumor resection stopped any further disease progression. Our report underlines that clinicians should be aware of the clinical features and diagnostic pitfalls of SS. Time of diagnosis and neurosurgical intervention can essentially influence the patients’ prognosis.
ISSN:0303-8467
1872-6968
DOI:10.1016/j.clineuro.2007.04.015