Spinal vascular malformations in non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage

M. R. Germans, F. A. Pennings, M. E. S. Sprengers, W. P. Vandertop

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and no evidence for a cerebral aneurysm on angiography, a frequent cause of the hemorrhage is perimesencephalic hemorrhage or other cerebral vascular pathology. In some patients no cause is found. The exact incidence of a spinal vascular malformation (SVM) as the origin for the SAH is not known. We assessed the occurrence of SVM in angiogram-negative, non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (NPSAH). METHODS: 47 patients (from a consecutive cohort of 632) were identified with an angiogramnegative, non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage and 42 of these were analyzed by performing MR-imaging of the complete spinal neuraxis with additional spinal angiography on indication. RESULTS: In four patients a spinal vascular malformation was identified as the cause of the SAH, indicating an incidence of 9 % of SVM in NPSAH, and an incidence of 1 % of SVM in all patients with SAH. INTERPRETATION: Systematic analysis of angiogram-negative, non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage by MR imaging of the complete spinal neuraxis yields a higher incidence of SVM than previously documented. We recommend MR imaging of the complete spinal neuraxis in patients with a non-perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage in whom no cause for the hemorrhage has been found
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1910-1915
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of neurology
Volume255
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mesencephalon/blood supply
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Cord/abnormalities
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/diagnosis
  • Vascular Malformations/complications
  • Young Adult

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