Superficial siderosis

Superficial siderosis
Other namesSuperficial siderosis of the CNS, Superficial hemosiderosis of the CNS, Superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system

Superficial hemosiderosis of the central nervous system is a disease of the brain resulting from chronic iron deposition in neuronal tissues associated with cerebrospinal fluid. This occurs via the deposition of hemosiderin in neuronal tissue, and is associated with neuronal loss, gliosis, and demyelination of neuronal cells. This disease was first discovered in 1908 by R.C. Hamill after performing an autopsy.[1] Detection of this disease was largely post-mortem until the advent of MRI technology, which made diagnosis far easier. Superficial siderosis is largely considered a rare disease, with less than 270 total reported cases in scientific literature as of 2006,[2] and affects people of a wide range of ages with men being approximately three times more frequently affected than women.[3] The number of reported cases of superficial siderosis has increased with advances in MRI technology, but it remains a rare disease.

  1. ^ Hamill, R.C. (1908) Report of a case of melanosis of the brain, cord, and meninges. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 35, 594.
  2. ^ Scheid R, Frisch S, Schroeter ML (October 2009). "Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system - treatment with steroids?". Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 34 (5): 603–5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2710.2009.01030.x. PMID 19753681.
  3. ^ Fearnley JM, Stevens JM, Rudge P (August 1995). "Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system". Brain. 118 ( Pt 4): 1051–66. doi:10.1093/brain/118.4.1051. PMID 7655881.