Superficial haemosiderosis of the central nervous system

Intracranial Superficial Siderozis

“…A microscopic tear, caused by dural pathology, tumors, vascular malformations, neurosurgical procedures, or trauma (2,6), allows blood into the subarachnoid space. No subarachnoid bleed could be identified in our patient, as well as in one-third of patients with this diagnosis (3,6). This may be because an intraspinal fluid-filled collection is a common accompaniment and may be the likely source of bleeding.…”

Granulomatous meningitis and diffuse parenchymatous degeneration of the nervous system due to an intracranial epidermoid cyst.

“…Dorsal column demyelination was presumably secondary to the other lesions, while superficial degeneration in the cerebrum was presumably the result of the granulomatous meningitis. This chronic degenerative process is in certain respects similar to that of superficial haemosiderosis of the nervous system of which we have previously reported an example (Tomlinson and Walton, 1964). In this latter condition bleeding occurs into the subarachnoid space slowly and over a long period of time and the resultant siderosis produces extensive degeneration of cerebellar folia, less severe but marked degeneration of superficial cortex, degeneration of cranial nerves, of the white matter at the periphery of the spinal cord, and sometimes anterior horn cell degeneration.…”

Superficial Siderosis of the Central Nervous System: Neuroradiological Evaluation of Two Cases

“…In 1 of the 2 cases also the CT examination was positive, showing a hyperdense rim around the brainstem. A complete neuro radiological evaluation (MR, CT, angiography and myelography) did not per mit to detect the source of the bleeding.Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition consisting in intra-and extracel lular deposition of hemosiderin in the leptomeninges and in the outer layers of the brain, spinal cord and cranial nerves in contact with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).In most cases, it is due to the diffusion of iron pigment resulting from chronic subarachnoid bleeding.Clinical findings include progressive deafness, ataxia, dementia, dysfunction of some cranial nerves and of the pyramidal tracts [1,2], Before the introduction of MR1. the diagnosis could only be suspected in life, based upon CSF and clinical findings, and could be confirmed only after autopsy [3].…”