J Korean Radiol Soc.  1983 Mar;19(1):49-57. 10.3348/jkrs.1983.19.1.49.

Computed tomography of the isodense subdural hematomas

• Youn EK
• Kim JW
• Kim OD
• Woo WH

• KMID: 2463201
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1983.19.1.49

Abstract

Most subdural hematoma with significantly differed attenuation from that of adjacent brain tissue can beaccurately diagnosed by CT. Difficulty arises when the hematoma is isodense that is exhibited similar attenuationto that of brain. Unilateral isodense subdural hematoma can be identified by indirect sign such as mass effect.Occasionally, the use of intravenous contrast material to aid in identifying isodense subdural hematomas has metwith variable success. Moreover, bilateral isodense subdural hematoma may be more difficult. We therfore considerdit of interest to evalute the diagnostic efficiency of CT in isodense subdural hematomas. We have analysed 13cases surgically provened cases of isodense subdural hematoma examined at Korea General Hospital from Oct. 1981 toApril. 1982. The resuls were as follows; 1. One hundred twenty seven cases of subdural hematomas were studied byCT, 13 cases (19.2%) of which were isodense. 2. The age distribution was from 29 years to 69 years and mean agewas 52 years. The sex ratio was 11 male to 2 female. 3. Seven(53.8%) of 13 cases has a history of head trauma. 4.The time interval which subdural hematoma became isodense was from 1 week to 4 months and peak time interval wasfrom 1 week to 3 weeks. 5. The precontrast CT of isodense subdural hematoma appeared shifting of midlinestructure, compression and deformity of the ventricles in all 13 cases, effacement of cerebral sulci in 10 cases(76.9%) and dilatation of contralateral ventricles in 4 cases (30.8%). 6. The postcontrast CT scan demonstratedenhancement of the medial margin of the lesion in 4(30.8%) of 13 cases and displacement of cortical vein away fromthe inner table of the skull in 3 (23.1%) of 13 cases. 7. Bilateral isodense subdural hematomas were 2 (15.4%) of13 cases.

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Brain
Congenital Abnormalities
Craniocerebral Trauma
Dilatation
Female
Hematoma
Hematoma, Subdural*
Hospitals, General
Humans
Korea
Male
Sex Ratio
Skull
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Veins