MR imaging in the diagnosis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas.

ABSTRACT

Three patients with spontaneous (idiopathic) spinal epidural hematomas were diagnosed with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Magnetic resonance is an accurate, rapid method of localizing and characterizing the hematomas. We believe that MR (where available) should be the primary method of diagnosis in cases in which spinal epidural hematoma is suspected.