Background Spontaneous subdural hematoma rarely presents with a hypervascular or malignant tumor but even less frequently in a benign tumor like meningioma. We encountered a patient with acute subdural hematoma associated with benign meningioma. Here, we report this case along with a review of previous reports, especially focusing on their clinical features and possible bleeding mechanisms. Case presentation A 53-year-old Asian woman presented with severe headache and progressive neurologic deterioration due to cerebral edema. The patient was submitted to open surgery for evacuation of the subdural hematoma and concurrent tumor removal on the ipsilateral parietal convexity. A hypervascular, encapsulated mass was identified during surgery and completely removed including the adjacent dura mater (Simpson grade 0). The tumor was histologically confirmed as an angiomatous meningioma (World Health Organization grade I). Her clinical course was uneventful after surgery. Conclusions Although meningiomas are commonly benign according to their histological traits, they can lead to spontaneous bleeding and cause neurologically unstable condition. Therefore, meningiomas need to be considered as a cause of spontaneous subdural hematoma if radiologically suspicious, which should be reflected by proper management for a positive outcome.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is a well-known method for treating spinal diseases in which adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a representative complication. To correct ASD, posterior fusion is extended to the upper or lower segment, and the previous instruments are removed. However, there have been a few reports of complications after instrument removal. Here, we report on a case of compression fracture that occurred without history of trauma after ASD revision and instrument removal surgery. A 68-year-old woman underwent PLIF at L3-L5 and was hospitalized for treatment of ASD. She underwent oblique lumbar interbody fusion at L2-L3 after removal of the previous screws. One month later, she visited the hospital with sudden lower back pain. Plain radiography revealed a compression fracture of L4. The patient's pain was relieved after conservative treatment. Our findings show that instrument removal during revision operations should be performed carefully because it can lead to compression fracture without history of trauma.