title: Diagnosis and management of subdural haematoma complicating bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: Subdural haematoma (SDH) is a known complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). A retrospective review of 657 consecutive patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplantation at the Royal Brisbane Hospital between January 1991 and December 1998 is reported. Seventeen cases of subdural haematoma/hygroma were identified (2.6%). Eleven of these (65%) were bilateral. Four required surgical drainage, with two developing re-accumulation of SDH. All cases presented with a headache and eight of these had associated neurological complications. Diagnosis was made predominately by CT scan: however in 25% of cases definitive diagnosis could only be made in MRI studies. An association with intrathecal methorexate-containing conditioning therapy, post lumbar puncture headache, prolonged thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy was noted. In our experience, conservative management with platelet support and correction of coagulopathy achieved resolution of subdural haematoma in most cases, with surgical intervention being reserved for neurological deterioration. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 549-552.
authors.affiliation: BMTU, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colosimo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayasinghe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durrant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014054:Tomography; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D008727:Methotrexate