title: [Clinical analysis of 42 cases of chronic expanding intracerebral hematoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize our own experiences of managing chronic expanding intracerebral hematoma (CEICH) and discuss its diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The courses of CEICH, clinical and imaging features, intraoperative findings, pathological examinations and follow-up outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. The relevant literatures were reviewed simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The course of CEICHs ranged from 22 days to 10 years. Twenty-three cases (54.8%) were misdiagnosed as cystic gliomas, cystic gliomas, brain cysticercoses, brain abscesses and tumor strokes, etc. The misdiagnostic rate had decreased to 19.0% since June 1997. Thirty-eight patients underwent surgical operations and 4 had puncture drainage of hematoma. There was no operative death. Thirty-three cases achieved an excellent recovery and 9 cases had varying degrees of nervous dysfunctions. The follow-up period was 1-21 years. One patient had recurrence after 10 years. Among the cases of multiple CEICH, two lesions underwent no surgical treatment. One increased obviously after 7 years and another disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The following five points may be used as the diagnostic criteria of CEICH: (1) intracerebral cystic space-occupying lesions on brain images; (2) circular or circle-like enhancement around lesions; (3) a mixed signal of concentric circular lamellar structures on MRI T1WI; (4) abnormal vascular lesions on CTA, MRA or DSA; (5) clinical signs and symptoms of slow progress of intracranial pressure. CEICHs with clinical symptoms of local mass effect shall be obliterated surgically. The abnormal tissues in cyst wall of hematoma should be resected. Small hematomas (< 2 cm) may be followed up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Second Hospital of Shandong Unieversity, Weifang, China.
authors.forename: Shi-qiang
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Yu-guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Qing-lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult