Intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage
CT scan of an intracerebral hemorrhage, bleeding into the lateral ventricles
Medical specialtyNeurosurgery
SymptomsHeadache, one-sided numbness, weakness, tingling, or paralysis, speech problems, vision or hearing problems, dizziness or lightheadedness or vertigo, nausea/vomiting, seizures, decreased level or total loss of consciousness, neck stiffness, memory loss, attention and coordination problems, balance problems, fever, shortness of breath (when bleed is in the brain stem)
ComplicationsComa, persistent vegetative state, cardiac arrest (when bleeding is severe or in the brain stem), death
CausesBrain trauma, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, brain tumors, hemorrhagic conversion of ischemic stroke
Risk factorsHigh blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, amyloidosis, alcoholism, low cholesterol, blood thinners, cocaine use
Diagnostic methodCT scan
Differential diagnosisIschemic stroke
TreatmentBlood pressure control, surgery, ventricular drain
Prognosis20% good outcome
Frequency2.5 per 10,000 people a year
Deaths44% die within one month

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, is a type of intracranial bleed that happens within the brain tissue or ventricles.[1]

Symptoms can include headache, one-sided weakness, vomiting, seizures, decreased level of consciousness, and neck stiffness. Often symptoms get worse over time. Fever is also common. In many cases bleeding is present in both the brain tissue and the ventricles.

Causes include brain trauma, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and brain tumors.

References

  1. Naidich, Thomas P.; Castillo, Mauricio; Cha, Soonmee; Smirniotopoulos, James G. (2012). Imaging of the Brain, Expert Radiology Series,1: Imaging of the Brain. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 387. ISBN 978-1416050094. Archived from the original on 2016-10-02.