Spontaneous Epidural and Corpus Callosum Hemorrhage in Sickle Cell Disease - An Unusual Presentation in a Ghanaian Patient

Abstract

Spontaneous intracranial bleed in sickle cell disease is a rare presentation and complication of the disease, with a few cases presenting with epidural hematoma. We present an 18-year-old boy with sickle cell, hemoglobin FS, who presented with non-traumatic scalp swelling, headaches, and vomiting six days following an episode of vaso-occlusive crisis with bone pain. A head CT scan showed extensive epidural hematoma with mass effect and acute corpus callosum bleed. The patient, however, had a cardiac arrest with unsuccessful resuscitation before neurosurgical interventions could be instituted. Of all reported cases, none has reported associated bleeding in the corpus callosum, making our case the firstwith such a combination, possibly worsening the outcome.

Keywords: corpus callosum hemorrhage; epidural hemorrhage; sickle cell disease; sickle cell disease complications; spontaneous intra-cranial hemorrhage; vaso-occlusive crisis.