Meningioma presenting as an acute subdural hematoma

Most subdural hematomas occur as a sequel of trauma. Non-traumatic subdural hematomas may be found in patients with ruptured aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, dural arteriovenous fistula, amyloid angiopathy, renal insufficiency, and cocaine abuse. Hypervascular primary and metastatic tumors may also present with subdural hematomas. We present the MR imaging features in a patient who presented with an acute subdural hematoma presumably caused by an underlying meningioma.     

Spinales chronisches subdurales Hämatom

Compared with spinal epidural hematomas, spinal subdural hematomas are rare; chronic forms are even more uncommon. These hematomas are associated not only with lumbar puncture and spinal trauma, but also with coagulopathies, vascular malformations and tumors. Compression of the spinal cord and the cauda equina means that the patients develop increasing back or radicular pain, followed by paraparesis and bladder and bowel paralysis, so that in most cases surgical decompression is carried out. On magnetic resonance imaging these hematomas present as thoracic or lumbar subdural masses, their signal intensity varying with the age of the hematoma. We report the clinical course and the findings revealed by imaging that led to the diagnosis in three cases of chronic spinal subdural hematoma.     

婴幼儿急性创伤性硬膜下血肿

目的 探讨婴幼儿急性创伤性硬膜下血肿临床特点及治疗方法.方法 回顾分析2002-2008年期间收治的年龄＜3岁的48例婴幼儿急性创伤性硬膜下血肿的临床特点.结果 婴儿31例,占65%;跌伤37例,占77%;12例(25%)有原发意识障碍,8例(17%)出现抽搐,8例(17%)合并颅骨骨折.18例行开颅血肿清除术(13例入院立即手术),7例行钻孔外引流,23例行保守治疗.1例因脑疝死亡,2例伴肢体运动功能减退,45例治愈.结论 婴幼儿急性创伤性硬膜下血肿发病率较高,尤其是婴儿,早期易被忽视,易转变为慢性硬膜下血肿或积液,早期诊断、积极外科治疗,预后良好.     

Age determination of subdural hematomas: survey among radiologists

Abusive head trauma is a severe form of child abuse. One important diagnostic finding is the presence of a subdural hematoma. Age determination of subdural hematomas is important to relate radiological findings to the clinical history presented by the caregivers. In court this topic is relevant as dating subdural hematomas can lead to identification of a suspect. The aim of our study is to describe the current practice among radiologists in the Netherlands regarding the age determination of subdural hematomas in children. This is a cross-sectional study, describing the results of an online questionnaire regarding dating subdural hematomas among pediatric and neuro-radiologists in the Netherlands. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic questions, theoretical questions and eight pediatric cases in which the participants were asked to date subdural hematomas based on imaging findings. Fifty-one out of 172 radiologists (30 %) filled out the questionnaire. The percentage of participants that reported it was possible to date the subdural hematoma varied between 58 and 90 % for the eight different cases. In four of eight cases (50 %), the age of the subdural hematoma as known from clinical history fell within the range reported by the participants. None of the participants was “very certain” of their age determination. The results demonstrate that there is a considerable practice variation among Dutch radiologists regarding the age determination of subdural hematomas. This implicates that dating of subdural hematomas is not suitable to use in court, as no uniformity among experts exists.     

Delayed epidural hematoma after evacuation of a subdural hematoma

CT easily diagnoses epidural hematomas. The appearance of an epidural hematoma may be delayed by compression from a contralateral lesion. The possibility of a delayed epidural hematoma should be kept in mind in the presence of additional findings such as a skull fracture contralateral to the original lesion or decompression of the epidural hematoma into either the subgaleal or the subarachnoid space. We present a case in which an epidural hematoma declared itself after the evacuation of a contralateral subdural hematoma.     

Subduralblutungen

This review surveys subdural hematomas, including general knowledge presented in the literature as well as own experiences. Main topics are: frequency, causes, types, clinical symptoms, development, risk factors, prognosis of subdural hematomas and injured structures predominantly responsible for such bleedings. Focal points of the presentation are forensic aspects, not clinically important details. Generally, a reduction of the diagnosis as “subdural hematoma” seems to be problematic. Firstly a subdivision in “hematomas in patients with relevant injuries of the cerebral tissue” (like contrecoup-lesion) and “... without cerebral injury” (pure, respectively isolated) is necessary, because the predominant causes of such cases differ, and (forensic) experiences with one of these classes cannot be completely transferred to the other. Secondly, in pure subdural hematomas the source of bleeding, i.e. the type of injured vessel should be characterized – if ever possible. Ruptures of cerebral bridging veins are generally looked at as traumatically caused. In contrast, following clinical literature hemorrhages from cortical arteries sometimes occur spontaneously. This aspect seems to be not sufficiently discussed in forensic literature. An excursion to traumatic subdural hygromas rounds off this presentation.     

Arterial origin subdural hematoma and associated pial pseudoaneurysm following minor head trauma

The vast majority of primary acute subdural hematomas following trauma are venous in origin. We report a very rare case of a primary acute subdural hematoma following minor head trauma that was arterial in origin and was associated with a pial cortical branch pseudoaneurysm. The patient was managed conservatively, and follow-up imaging demonstrated complete resolution of both lesions.     

Strangulation in child abuse: CT diagnosis

The central nervous system is commonly affected in child abuse. Between April 1985 and July 1986 three infants were identified in whom the primary mode of injury had been strangulation. In each case computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a large cerebral infarction confined to vascular territories associated with small subdural hematomas. There was no history or visible evidence of significant head trauma. Autopsy of one infant confirmed the presence of a hemispheric infarct, thin subdural hematoma, and an area of subintimal hemorrhage in the carotid artery ipsilateral to the infarct. The remaining two patients survived with residual hemiparesis. CT findings of a large cerebral infarction with an associated subdural hematoma in an infant without a history of a significant trauma should suggest the possibility of child abuse and may be the primary manifestation of abuse in some patients.     

婴幼儿脑外积液的MRI研究:脑外间隙发育性与病理性的扩大

目的 分析婴幼儿脑外积液的MRI特征，明确脑外积液的病因及与脑发育的关系。方法 选择经MRI确诊的46例年龄〈2岁的脑外积液患儿，分析其MRI特征。并按月龄分7组，在T2WI上测量脑外间隙宽度并与正常值对照。结果 引起婴幼儿脑外积液的主要原发病有感染性疾病、硬膜下或蛛网膜下出血、缺氧缺血性脑病（HIE）占67．4％（31／46例），原因不明占26．1％（12／46例）。脑外积液主要发生在大脑凸面的前部，以蛛网膜下腔积液多见，占80．4％（37／46例），硬膜下积液8．7％（4／46例），硬膜下和蛛网膜下积液并存10．9％（5／46例）。其中，化脓性脑膜炎可致硬脑膜或软脑膜的信号在T1WI或T2WI上增高，常引起硬膜下积液或与蛛网膜下腔积液并存。硬膜下和（或）蛛网膜下腔出血常为硬膜下和蛛网膜下腔积液并存，并常见大脑表面静脉（皮质静脉）增粗、淤滞和出血，在T1WI上信号增高。HIE所致脑外积液为蛛网膜下腔积液，可见HIE所致的特征性改变，常有髓鞘化落后占63．6％（7／11例）。原因不明者多为双侧对称性的蛛网膜下腔积液。脑室扩大主要见于HIE和硬膜下或蛛网膜下出血。结论 婴幼儿脑外积液多有明确病因，以出血、感染和HIE为多见，积液的部位与脑发育的特性有关，MRI对明确脑外积液的性质，判断病因有帮助。     

Absent cord sign in acute spinal trauma

Review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in 100 patients suffering acute spinal trauma from 1985 to 1987 revealed four patients who had suffered thoracic spine fractures and acute subarachnoid hematomas. The spinal cord was not demonstrated on the T1-weighted sagittal MRI due to the similarities in signal intensity between the spinal cord and acute hemorrhage. Nonvisualization of the thoracic cord should not be presumed to be artifactual until subarachnoid hematoma is excluded.     

Enlarged cerebrospinal fluid spaces in infants with subdural hematomas

Computed tomography in 16 infants with subdural hematomas showed enlarged basal cisterns, a wide interhemispheric fissure, prominent cortical sulci, and varying degrees of ventricular enlargement. Radionuclide cisternography in eight of the 16 patients showed findings consistent with enlargement of the subarachnoid space rather than those of communicating hydrocephalus. Clinical findings and brief follow-up showed no convincing evidence for cerebral atrophy in 13 patients. These findings suggest that the enlarged subarachnoid space, which is encountered in some infants and may be a developmental variant, predisposes such infants to subdural hematomas.     

自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿的MRI诊断(附4例报告)

目的：对自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿（ＳＳＥＨ）的ＭＲ和临床表现进行评价。材料与方法：本组包括１９９６年至１９９８年的３例ＳＳＥＨ患者,男３例,女１例,年龄３３～６１岁。４例患者均无外伤、血管损伤或凝血机制障碍等病史。均作ＭＲＩ检查并有手术病理证实。结果：在ＭＲ图像上,血肿分别位于硬膜外腔的左后、右后及正后方。其中１例为ＡＶＭ导致的有包膜的血肿,另１例的局部有椎间盘突出。Ｔ１加权能特征性地反映血肿随时间发生的信号变化而最有价值;１．５Ｔ高场强和轴位梯度回波的Ｔ２加权能很好地判断血肿的位置。结论：自发性脊髓硬膜外血肿是一少见病,ＭＲＩ是它的首选检查方法。应当注意的是,要获得理想的临床疗效,就必须做到诊断精确,并及时地手术治疗,解除脊髓压迫。     

Computed tomography of cranial subdural and epidural hematomas: variation of attenuation related to time and clinical events such as rebleeding

Forty-one cases of subdural and nine of epidural hematomas were studied with regard to attenuation and the time between trauma and computed tomography scanning. The attenuation of the hematomas showed a consistent decrease with time during the first 4 weeks. High attenuation of chronic subdural hematomas is explained by a sudden or continuous rebleeding. No correlation was found between the attenuation of the hematoma and the attenuation of venous blood from the same patient.     

False positive appearance of subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT with bilateral subdural hematomas

We describe a patient with bilateral traumatic subdural hematomas in whom CT findings of hyperattenuation in the basal cisterns and subarachnoid spaces falsely suggested superimposed acute subarachnoid hemorrhage.     

Neonatal infratentorial subdural hematoma contributing to obstructive hydrocephalus in the setting of therapeutic cooling: A case report

BACKGROUNDSymptomatic neonatal subdural hematomas usually result from head trauma incurred during vaginal delivery, most commonly during instrument assistance. Symptomatic subdural hematomas are rare in C-section deliveries that were not preceded by assisted delivery techniques. Although the literature is inconclusive, another possible cause of subdural hematomas is therapeutic hypothermia.CASE SUMMARYWe present a case of a term neonate who underwent therapeutic whole-body cooling for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy following an emergent C-section delivery for prolonged decelerations. Head ultrasound on day of life 3 demonstrated a rounded mass in the posterior fossa. A follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging confirmed hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and clarified the subdural hematomas in the posterior fossa causing mass effect and obstructive hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONThe aim of this report is to highlight the rarity and importance of mass-like subdural hematomas causing obstructive hydrocephalus, particularly in the setting of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and therapeutic whole-body cooling.     

非常见部位急性硬膜下血肿CT诊断(附26例报告)

目的　提高对非常见部位急性硬膜下血肿CT表现的认识。方法　头颅外伤后在 2 4h内行CT检查 1 9例 ,2～ 3d内行CT检查 7例。经治疗后在 1～ 4周内复查CT。结果　单纯表现为大脑镰急性硬膜下血肿 7例 ,小脑幕急性硬膜下血肿 5例。额颞底部急性硬膜下血肿 2例。脑挫裂伤、脑内血肿伴有大脑镰急性硬膜下血肿 3例 ,伴有小脑幕急性硬膜下血肿 2例 ,颞顶部急性硬膜下血肿伴有大脑镰急性硬膜下血肿 2例 ,大脑镰、小脑幕急性硬膜下血肿伴有蛛网膜下腔出血 5例。 2 6例大脑镰与小脑幕急性硬膜下血肿均发生在单侧。大脑镰急性硬膜下血肿的形态有的在中线呈细线状 ,有的呈粗线状。血肿厚度 0 .3～ 1 .5cm不等。小脑幕急性硬膜下血肿表现为片状、新月形。结论　大脑镰、小脑幕和额颞底部急性硬膜下血肿是发生在少见部位的特殊类型急性硬膜下血肿 ,只要对此类血肿有所认识 ,CT检查不难确诊 ,但有时需要与蛛网膜下腔出血鉴别     

Adrenal gland hematomas in trauma patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of detection of trauma-induced adrenal gland hematoma in current practice by using computed tomography (CT) and to correlate presence of adrenal hematoma with quantitative clinical indicators of injury severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The radiology information system and the trauma registry were searched for cases of adrenal hematoma detected at trauma CT during a 54-month period. CT images depicting adrenal masses with the published characteristics of adrenal hematoma were reviewed by readers who were unblinded to the initial interpretations. Injury severity score (ISS), associated injury, and patient outcome data were gleaned from the trauma registry. The control group comprised patients entered in the trauma registry during the study period who did not have a diagnosis of adrenal hematoma. RESULTS: Fifty-four adrenal hematomas were detected in 51 patients: 42 with right-gland, 12 with left-gland, and three with bilateral lesions. The hematomas were round or ovoid and had a mean maximum diameter of 2.8 cm +/- 0.7 (SD) and a mean attenuation of 52 HU +/- 12. Periadrenal stranding was seen with 48 (89%) hematomas. At follow-up CT, 32 of 35 hematomas had resolved or decreased in size and attenuation. One patient with adrenal hematoma had no other intraabdominal injuries. Compared with the 6,757 control patients, the 51 patients with adrenal hematoma had a higher mortality rate (10% vs 4%; P <.001, chi(2) test) and a higher mean ISS (25.2 vs 9.7; P <.01, t test). Adrenal hematoma was found in 24 (0.4%) of 5,665 trauma patients with an ISS of 0-19, as compared with six (5.0%) of 122 patients with an ISS of 40 or higher. CONCLUSION: Adrenal hematoma was detected in 51 (1.9%) of 2,692 trauma patients who underwent CT, or 0.8% of all patients (n = 6,808) entered in the trauma registry. Compared with the other trauma patients, the patients with adrenal hematomas had severe injuries associated with higher mortality.     

CT诊断特殊征象的蛛网膜下腔出血

目的:探讨蛛网膜下腔出血的特殊CT征象,提高对此病变的诊断率。方法:回顾性分析17例经证实的具有特殊CT表现的蛛网膜下腔出血病例,分析其形成机理,CT表现特征及与硬膜下血肿的鉴别要点。结果:所有病例均含有颅骨内板下新月形高密度影这种酷似硬膜下血肿的CT表现,但具有内缘不锐利,密度较低且不均匀的特征。结论:CT可以诊断具此特殊表现的蛛网膜下腔出血并与硬膜下血肿鉴别。     

MR characteristics of subdural hematomas and hygromas at 1.5 T

MR images of 24 patients with 33 subdural collections were retrospectively reviewed to determine the spectrum of MR findings associated with such lesions. The lesions were dated by history, when available. Hematomas were grouped as follows: acute, four; early subacute, four; late subacute, four; chronic, 13. Six collections were classified as rehemorrhage; and two patients had CSF hygromas. Subdural hematomas evolved in a pattern similar to intracerebral hemorrhage with the exception of chronic subdural hematomas, in which isointensity of hypointensity relative to gray matter was observed on short TR/TE images compared with the persistent very high signal intensity noted in chronic parenchymal hematomas. Hemosiderin was rarely seen in chronic hematomas. These findings are most likely the result of the absence of a blood-brain barrier, which allowed clearance and dilution of blood products. Subdural hematomas with repeat hemorrhage demonstrated multiple phases of bleeding with layering phenomenon and more frequent hemosiderin deposition. It is possible that the clearance of blood products, as observed in chronic subdural hematomas, is impaired or poorly functional when rehemorrhage occurs. The persistence of high signal from methemoglobin in a hematoma that is expected to be in the chronic phase also suggests repeated hemorrhage. Acute CSF subdural hygromas had signal intensities identical to CSF without MR evidence of blood products. At surgery, clear fluid under pressure was found. MR imaging, with its unique ability to delineate the various phases of hemorrhage, is well suited to the evaluation of subdural hemorrhage.