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Published on: June 18, 2021
[A child case of subarachnoid hemorrhage triggered by head injury: a case report]
S Miyamoto1, M Yasuda, T Tsunoda
1Department of Neurosurgery, Ibaraki Prefectural Center Hospital, Japan.
Insights
A child
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurovascular Imaging
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
Background:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in children is rare and often challenging to diagnose.
- Etiology can be diverse, including trauma, vascular malformations, and infections.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old boy presented with cardiopulmonary arrest and coma after a minor head injury.
- Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan revealed basal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- 3D-Computed Tomography Angiography (3D-CTA) identified two aneurysmal dilatations in the vertebrobasilar system.
Findings:
- Autopsy confirmed a laceration of the left vertebral artery.
- Microscopic examination revealed defects in the internal elastic membrane and medial smooth muscle cells, consistent with a congenital aneurysm.
- The rupture of a presumed congenital aneurysm, triggered by head trauma, is the suspected cause of the hemorrhage.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering congenital aneurysms in pediatric patients with unexplained subarachnoid hemorrhage, even after minor head trauma.
- Early diagnosis and management of pediatric cerebral aneurysms are crucial for improving outcomes.
- Further research into the specific risk factors and diagnostic challenges of pediatric aneurysms is warranted.
Abstract:
We report a case of basal subarachnoid hemorrhage in a child. The etiology of this lesion was difficult to diagnose. The patient was a 9-year-old boy. He sustained minor head injury followed by loss of consciousness and cardiopulmonary arrest. He was brought to our emergency room by ambulance. On arrival, he presented with cardiopulmonary arrest and deep comatose state. Basal subarachnoid hemorrhage was revealed on CAT scan. 3D-CTA documented two bulging portions: one was at the junction between the left vertebral artery and the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery. The other one was shown at the basilar artery. He died on the 7th hospital day. The autopsy revealed a laceration of the left vertebral artery. Microscopically, the wall around the laceration showed a defect in the internal elastic membrane and a decrease of smooth muscle cells with moderate fibrosis in the tunica media. These findings were compatible with the structure of a congenital aneurysm. Hence, the patient was strongly suspected to have had a congenital aneurysm whose rupture was triggered by minor head injury.
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