Acute subdural hematoma caused by an unruptured, thrombosed giant intracavernous aneurysm.
BACKGROUND
Acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is an infrequent complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. SDH associated with unruputed intracavernous aneurysm has never been reported.


METHODS
Single patient case report and review of relevent literature.


RESULTS
A 65-year-old woman with an unruptured, thrombosed giant intracavernous aneurysm developed an acute SDH 2 days after admission for cavernous sinus syndrome. Despite emergent evacuation of the SDH, the patient never regained consciousness because of brain herniation.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute SDH is a rare complication of ruptured, giant intracavernous aneurysms. Erosion of the cavernous sinus wall by acute enlargement of the aneurysm after thrombosis is the proposed mechanism for development of the SDH.
Triantafyllopoulou
Antigone
A
Neurosciences Critical Care Division, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Beaumont
Andrew
A
Ulatowski
John
J
Tamargo
Rafael J
RJ
Varelas
Panayiotis N
PN
D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D020226:Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004677:Encephalocele / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020199:Hematoma, Subdural, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed