01.12.2011 | Case report | Ausgabe 1/2011 Open Access
Presentation of a minimally symptomatic large extradural hematoma in a patient with an arachnoid cyst: a case report and review of the literature
- Zeitschrift:
- Journal of Medical Case Reports > Ausgabe 1/2011
Wichtige Hinweise
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-581) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
AS analyzed and interpreted the patient data regarding the extradural hematoma in the setting of an arachnoid cyst and performed the surgery. ASS aided in the surgery, performed the literature review and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. ARZ helped in the literature review and interpretation of the neuroimaging. HRB helped in the literature review and organized the references and figures. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Abstract
Introduction
Hemorrhagic complications of arachnoid cysts have been reported, extensively presenting with subdural or intracystic hematoma after trauma, but presentation with extradural hemorrhage is very rare. In this paper, we report the case of a patient with an arachnoid cyst who developed an extradural hematoma after a subtle head injury. Our patient presented with very mild symptoms in spite of the very large size of the hematoma.
Case presentation
Our patient was a 23-year-old Iranian man who complained of diffuse progressive headache and vomiting after mild head trauma. A brain computerized scan showed a very large extradural hematoma in the left frontotemporoparietal convexity over a large arachnoid cyst.
Conclusion
Brain parenchyma containing an arachnoid cyst is vulnerable to trauma and increases the risk of serious hemorrhagic complications. We also suggest that the abnormal shape of the head should be considered as an indication for a computerized tomography scan in cases of mild head injury.