Central nervous system superficial siderosis following spinal surgery.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare progressive disease associated with hemosiderin deposition on the leptomeninges of the neuraxis. In addition to tumors and vascular lesions, dural sleeve pseudomeningoceles caused by brachial plexus avulsion injury may be the bleeding source in this disease. The authors describe a patient who underwent anterior cervical spine surgery for spinal cord compression due to the ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament. The operation was complicated by a dural tear and subsequent psedomeningocele formation. Nine years later, this patient developed superficial siderosis. The possible mechanisms involved in the development of superficial siderosis in this patient will be discussed.