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

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.

Spontaneous epidural spinal haematoma in children caused by vascular malformations

“…In some cases, irritability may also be the only early presenting feature of SESH. Cakir et al [4] describe a case of a 9-year-old girl with a spontaneous thoracic epidural haematoma initially misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy did not improve her symptoms, prompting MR imaging which revealed a thoracic epidural haematoma.…”