Presentation
Head trauma
Patient Data
This case featured in our 2016 Trauma Radiology Course which is now available to view online.
Very large left-sided extradural hematoma which underlies the parietal bone and the occipital bone with fracture diastasis of the left lambdoid suture. The hemorrhage, therefore, has both supratentorial and infratentorial extension pushing the origin of the tentorium inward.
There is a marked midline shift to the right and compression of the midbrain due to uncal herniation. The left cerebellar tonsil descends through the foramen magnum without causing compression of the cervicomedullary junction.
Hemorrhage within the markedly effaced and displaced left lateral ventricle. Several small left cerebral/basal ganglia intraparenchymal hemorrhages are seen. Swirling low density within the generally hyperdense extradural collection is consistent with ongoing arterial bleeding (swirl sign).
A left petrous temporal bone fracture is present, accounting for the locules of intracranial gas within the hematoma.
Left subgaleal hematoma.
Case Discussion
Large left sided extradural hematoma producing substantial mass effect with compression of the midbrain. While extradural hematoma do not often cross cranial sutures, they can if there is fracture disruption of the suture as in this case. This case also demonstrates nicely how extradural hemorrhage does not extend along dural reflections, but instead pushes the origin of the dural folds inward.
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