Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Benign anterior temporal epidural hematoma: indolent lesion with a characteristic CT imaging appearance after blunt head trauma.

Radiology 2010 October
PURPOSE: To study the incidence, pathogenesis, imaging characteristics, and clinical importance of a unique subtype of epidural hematoma (EDH) associated with blunt head trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was reviewed and approved by the hospital's Institutional Review Board and was compliant with HIPAA. Informed consent was waived. The investigation was a retrospective study of 200 patients with acute supratentorial EDH, defined as a biconvex, high-attenuating, extraaxial hematoma. A subgroup of 21 patients in whom the EDH was located at the anterior aspect of the middle cranial fossa was defined. Computed tomographic images and inpatient medical records of these 21 patients were evaluated for imaging characteristics of the EDH, presence or absence of associated fracture, presence or absence of midline shift and/or mass effect, additional intracranial injury, and hospital clinical course.

RESULTS: Twenty-one (10.5%) of 200 traumatic EDHs localized to the anterior middle cranial fossa. All of these 21 anterior temporal EDHs were juxtaposed to the sphenoparietal sinus, and all but one were limited laterally by the sphenotemporal suture and medially by the orbital fissure; none extended above the lesser sphenoid wing. Maximum thickness was less than 1 cm in 13 (62%) of 21 and less than 2 cm in 20 (95%) of 21 patients. Isolated fractures of the greater sphenoid wing and ipsilateral zygomaticomaxillary fractures were present in 12 (57%) of 21 and nine (43%) of 21 patients, respectively. Concomitant intracranial injury was identified in 15 (71%) of 21 patients. Twenty (95%) of 21 lesions were present at the admission study, and all 21 were stable or smaller at follow-up imaging. No patient required neurosurgical intervention of their anterior temporal EDH.

CONCLUSION: Acute EDHs isolated to the anterior aspect of the middle cranial fossa constitute a subgroup of traumatic EDHs with a benign natural history. It is postulated that they arise from venous bleeding due to disruption of the sphenoparietal sinus.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app