Unusual Case of Posterior Fossa Extradural Hematoma in a Child: Review of the Literature

Gerardo Caruso; Patrizia Fiore; Maria Luisa Gorgoglione; Giuseppe Ricciardo; Maria Caffo

doi:10.1159/000511906

Unusual Case of Posterior Fossa Extradural Hematoma in a Child: Review of the Literature

Pediatr Neurosurg. 2020;55(6):399-403. doi: 10.1159/000511906. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Authors

Gerardo Caruso¹, Patrizia Fiore², Maria Luisa Gorgoglione², Giuseppe Ricciardo², Maria Caffo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemical and Dental Science and Morphofunctional Imaging, Unit of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy, gcaruso@unime.it.
² Department of Biochemical and Dental Science and Morphofunctional Imaging, Unit of Neurosurgery, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

PMID: 33271559
DOI: 10.1159/000511906

Abstract

Introduction: Posterior fossa extradural hematoma (PFEH) is a rare pathology often due to nuchal region trauma. In children, PFEH causes rapid decline of the neurological status also for brain stem compression. Early brain computed tomography (CT) scan is necessary suspicious for PFEH. Most patients need surgical evacuation.

Case presentation: In this article, we present a 5-year-old patient arrived for meningitis that came out in favor of PFEH after an accurate history record.

Discussion/conclusion: Accurate anamnestic records, especially in pediatric patients, prevent from misleading clinic and neurological presentation. Brain CT scan is an indispensable diagnostic tool in order to promptly recognize and treat PFEH considering that rapid cognitive impairment of patients raises the risk of mortality and morbidity.

Keywords: Head trauma; Pediatric trauma; Posterior fossa extradural hematoma.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Cranial Fossa, Posterior* / diagnostic imaging
Cranial Fossa, Posterior* / surgery
Head
Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial* / diagnostic imaging
Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial* / etiology
Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial* / surgery
Humans