Swansea Radiology teaching site Helping Students to identify illness through X-rays

Case Archives

Case 54 : 28.08.09

History :
24 year old complaining of headache following head trauma.

image

 

Answers :

Has contrast been given for this scan ?

No

Descibe the findings seen on the scan ?

  • There is a biconvex or lentiform area of high attenuation (density) seen overlying the left cerebral hemisphere.
  • There is soft tissue swelling.

What is the diagnosis ?

Extradural (epidural) haematoma

What features allow the diagnosis to be confidently made ?

Features of an extradural haematoma :

  • biconvex (lens/lentiform) shape
  • the haematoma does not cross sutures (e.g. coronal suture)
  • often associated with a fracture

What is the usual clinical history and presentation for this diagnosis ?

  • more common following trauma in younger patients
  • often associated with an intial lucent interval after trauma followed by deterioation in level of consciousness

annotate extradural haematoma


back

 

archives

 




 
HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US Swansea Radiology Teaching | Copyright 2008