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Case of the month. Symptomatic chronic calcified subdural hematoma in a 5-year-old child

Umesh Narsinghani, George Burson, Mary Beth Schmidt

    The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society
    |March 8, 2002
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatric head trauma can cause serious issues, but subdural hematomas are less common and less fatal in children. This case highlights a rare, large calcified subdural hematoma in a 5-year-old.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Neurology
    • Traumatic Brain Injury
    • Neurosurgery

    Background:

    • Head trauma is a significant cause of illness and death in children.
    • Pediatric head trauma has distinct pathophysiology and outcomes compared to adults.
    • Subdural hematomas, though less frequent in children, warrant careful consideration.

    Observation:

    • Chronic subdural hematomas are more prevalent in infants and rare after one year of age.
    • Traumatic events leading to subdural hematomas are often unreported.
    • This report details a rare case of a large, calcified chronic subdural hematoma in a 5-year-old.

    Findings:

    • The patient presented with increased intracranial pressure and subfalcine herniation.
    • The subdural hematoma was unusually large and calcified.
    • While often trauma-related, subdural hematomas can rarely indicate bleeding disorders or malignancies.

    Implications:

    • This case underscores the importance of considering rare presentations of subdural hematomas in pediatric patients.
    • Early diagnosis and management are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric head trauma.
    • Further research into the specific mechanisms of chronic subdural hematoma formation in older children is needed.

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