MSD Manual

Please confirm that you are not located inside the Russian Federation

honeypot link

Intracranial Hematomas

By

Gordon Mao

, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine

Reviewed/Revised Mar 2023
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
Topic Resources

Intracranial hematomas are accumulations of blood inside the skull, either within the brain or between the brain and the skull.

  • Intracranial hematomas form when a head injury causes blood to accumulate within the brain or between the brain and the skull.

  • Symptoms may include a persistent headache, drowsiness, confusion, memory changes, paralysis on the opposite side of the body, speech or language impairment, and other symptoms depending on which area of the brain is damaged.

  • Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is used to detect an intracranial hematoma.

  • Sometimes surgery is needed to drain blood from a hematoma.

After injury, bleeding can also occur between the arachnoid mater and the inner layer (pia mater). (See .) Bleeding in this area is called subarachnoid hemorrhage Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding into the space (subarachnoid space) between the inner layer (pia mater) and middle layer (arachnoid mater) of the tissues covering the brain (meninges)... read more Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) . However, because subarachnoid blood usually does not accumulate in one place, it is not considered a hematoma.

Most epidural and intracerebral hematomas and many subdural hematomas develop rapidly and cause symptoms within minutes. Large hematomas press on the brain and may cause swelling and herniation Herniation: The Brain Under Pressure Herniation: The Brain Under Pressure of the brain. Herniation may cause loss of consciousness, coma, paralysis on one or both sides of the body, breathing difficulties, slowing of the heart, and even death.

Some hematomas, particularly subdural hematomas, may develop slowly and cause gradual confusion and memory loss, especially in older people. These symptoms are similar to those of dementia. People may not remember the head injury.

Diagnosis of intracranial hematomas is usually based on results of computed tomography (CT).

Treatment of intracranial hematomas depends on the type and size of the hematoma and how much pressure has built up in the brain.

Tissues Covering the Brain

Within the skull, the brain is covered by three layers of tissue called the meninges:

  • Dura mater (outer layer)

  • Arachnoid mater (middle layer)

  • Pia mater (inner layer)

Between the arachnoid membrane and pia mater is the subarachnoid space. This space contains cerebrospinal fluid, which flows through the meninges, fills the spaces within the brain, and helps cushion the brain and spinal cord.

Tissues Covering the Brain

Epidural Hematomas

Epidural hematomas are caused by bleeding from an artery or a large vein (venous sinus) located between the skull and the outer layer of tissue covering the brain. Bleeding often occurs when a skull fracture tears the blood vessel.

Pockets of Blood in the Brain

A head injury can cause bleeding in the brain. It can result in a pocket of blood between the skull and the outer layer of tissue covering the brain. This pocket of blood is called an epidural hematoma. Or a pocket of blood may form between the outer and middle layers of tissue. This pocket of blood is called a subdural hematoma.

Pockets of Blood in the Brain

A severe headache may develop immediately or several hours after the injury. The headache sometimes disappears but returns several hours later, worse than before. Deterioration in consciousness, including increasing confusion, sleepiness, and a deep coma, can quickly follow. Some people lose consciousness after the injury, regain it, and have a period of unimpaired mental function (lucid interval) before consciousness deteriorates again. People may develop paralysis on the side of the body opposite the hematoma, speech or language impairment, or other symptoms, depending on the location of the brain damage Brain Dysfunction by Location Because different areas of the brain control specific functions, the location of brain damage determines the type of dysfunction that results. Which side of the brain is affected is also important... read more .

Early diagnosis of epidural hematomas is crucial and is usually based on results of computed tomography (CT).

Doctors treat epidural hematomas as soon as they are diagnosed. Prompt treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage. Usually, one or more holes are drilled in the skull to drain the excess blood. The surgeon also seeks the source of the bleeding and stops the bleeding.

Subdural Hematomas

Subdural hematomas are usually caused by bleeding from veins, including the bridging veins, located between the outer and middle layers of tissue covering the brain (meninges). Occasionally, subdural hematomas are caused by bleeding from arteries.

Subdural hematomas may be

  • Acute: Symptoms develop over minutes or a few hours after the injury.

  • Subacute: Symptoms develop over several hours or days.

  • Chronic: Symptoms develop gradually over weeks, months, or years.

Acute or subacute subdural hematomas may be caused by rapid bleeding after a severe head injury. Acute subdural hematomas are often caused by a head injury that occurs during a fall or motor vehicle crash. They may also develop in people who have bruising in the brain (contusions) or an epidural hematoma Epidural Hematomas Intracranial hematomas are accumulations of blood inside the skull, either within the brain or between the brain and the skull. Intracranial hematomas form when a head injury causes blood to... read more Epidural Hematomas .

Acute subdural hematomas can cause swelling in the brain. The hematoma and swelling can result in increased pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure), which can make symptoms worse and increase the risk of dying.

Chronic subdural hematomas are more common among people with alcohol use disorder, older people, and people who take medications that make blood less likely to clot (anticoagulants or antiplatelets). People with alcohol use disorder and older people, who are relatively prone to falls as well as bleeding, may ignore or forget minor to moderately severe head injuries. These injuries can lead to small subdural hematomas that may become chronic.

By the time symptoms are noticeable, a chronic subdural hematoma may be very large. Chronic hematomas are less likely than acute hematomas to cause a rapid increase of pressure within the skull.

In older people, the brain shrinks slightly, stretching the bridging veins and making them more likely to be torn if an injury, even a minor one, occurs. Also, bleeding tends to continue longer because the shrunken brain exerts less pressure on the bleeding vein, allowing more blood loss from it.

Blood that remains after a subdural hematoma is slowly reabsorbed. After the blood is resorbed from a hematoma, the brain may not re-expand as well in older people as in younger people. As a result, a fluid-filled space (hygroma) may be left. The hygroma may refill with blood or enlarge because small vessels tear, causing repeated bleeding.

Did You Know...

  • An older person with symptoms of dementia may instead have a subdural hematoma, which can be effectively treated.

Symptoms of Subdural Hematomas

Symptoms of a subdural hematoma may include a persistent headache, fluctuating drowsiness, confusion, memory changes, paralysis on the side of the body opposite the hematoma, and speech or language impairment. Other symptoms may occur depending on the location of the brain damage Brain Dysfunction by Location Because different areas of the brain control specific functions, the location of brain damage determines the type of dysfunction that results. Which side of the brain is affected is also important... read more .

In infants, a subdural hematoma can cause the head to enlarge (as in hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of extra fluid in the normal spaces within the brain (ventricles) and/or between the inner and middle layers of tissues that cover the brain (the subarachnoid... read more Hydrocephalus ) because the skull is soft and pliable. Therefore, pressure within the skull increases less in infants than it does in older children and adults.

Diagnosis of Subdural Hematomas

  • Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging

Chronic subdural hematomas are more difficult to diagnose because of the length of time between the injury and the development of symptoms. An older person with gradually developing symptoms, such as memory impairment and drowsiness, may be mistakenly thought to have dementia.

Computed tomography (CT) can detect acute, subacute, and many chronic subdural hematomas. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly accurate for diagnosis of chronic subdural hematomas.

Treatment of Subdural Hematomas

  • For small hematomas, often no treatment

  • For large hematomas, surgery to drain them

Often, small subdural hematomas in adults do not require treatment because the blood is absorbed on its own.

If a subdural hematoma is large and is causing symptoms such as persistent headache, fluctuating drowsiness, confusion, memory changes, and paralysis on the opposite side of the body, doctors usually drain it surgically, sometimes by drilling a small hole in the skull. However, sometimes a larger opening must be made in the skull—for example, when bleeding has occurred very recently or when the blood may be too thick to drain through a small hole. During surgery, a drain is usually inserted and left in place for several days because subdural hematomas can recur. The person is monitored closely for recurrences.

In infants, doctors usually drain the hematoma for cosmetic if for no other reasons.

Only about 50% of people who are treated for a large acute subdural hematoma survive. People who are treated for a chronic subdural hematoma usually improve or do not worsen.

Intracerebral Hematomas

Intracerebral hematomas are common after a severe head injury. They can be caused by bruising of the brain (a cerebral contusion Cerebral Contusions and Lacerations Cerebral contusions are bruises of the brain, usually caused by a direct, strong blow to the head. Cerebral lacerations are tears in brain tissue, caused by a foreign object or pushed-in bone... read more ). Exactly when one or more contusions become a hematoma is not well-defined.

Fluid accumulation in the damaged brain (cerebral edema) is common. It increases pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure). When pressure within the skull is increased, the brain may get less blood and oxygen. If the pressure is high enough, the brain may be forced through a small natural opening in the relatively rigid sheets of tissue that separate the brain into compartments (brain herniation Herniation: The Brain Under Pressure Herniation: The Brain Under Pressure ). Cerebral edema and its complications account for most deaths.

Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect intracerebral hematomas.

Surgery is usually avoided because of the following:

  • Intracerebral hematomas are caused by direct damage to the brain.

  • Usually, surgery does not restore brain function.

  • Hematomas are within the brain tissue. Thus, doctors must remove the overlying brain to get at the hematoma. Removing this tissue contributes to loss of brain function.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz! 
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP