Epidural Hematoma

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Synonyms: Epidural hematoma

An epidural hematoma is usually traumatic in origin and, when symptomatic, is typically a neurosurgical emergency. It is most often a traumatic hemorrhage caused by an injury to the middle meningeal artery, resulting in bleeding into the epidural space.

Location

Epidural hematomas typically occur in the temporoparietal region. Epidural hematomas in the posterior fossa account for approximately 5% of all epidural hematomas1. Approximately 85% of epidural hematomas are associated with a skull fracture2.

Imaging

Epidural hematomas can be optimally visualized on both CT and MRI. CT imaging provides better visualization of bony structures, so the fractures frequently associated with an epidural hematoma can often be visualized more clearly.

Epidural hematoma with fracture on CT
CT image of a patient with a left-sided epidural hematoma and an associated fracture in the region of the hematoma.

Conservatively treated epidural hematoma.
CT imaging of a left frontal epidural hematoma that was treated conservatively without surgery.

Epidural hematoma on CT
Visualization of a large right-sided epidural hematoma that was surgically evacuated immediately after imaging.

References

    1. Neurosurgery Case Review: Questions and Answers. Remi Nader, Abdulrahman J Sabbagh. 2020 Thieme Verlage. ISBN 9781626231986 ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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