Superficial siderosis of the nervous system

Definition

Superficial siderosis is the deposition of haemosiderin in the central nervous system as a result of chronic or recurrent subarachnoid haemorrhage due to vascular anomalies, aneurysms, vascular tumours, neurosurgery, cervical root lesions, head injury and trauma. Clinical feature of Superficial siderosis include sensorineural deafness, cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal weakness and less frequently dementia, loss of sphincter control, anosmia, anisocoria, sensory disturbance, extra-ocular motor palsies, sciatica and lower motor neuron signs. The diagnosis may be confirmed by pure tone audiometry, neuroimaging, spinal fluid analysis, angiography to identify a potential bleeding source and where appropriate genetic testing.

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