[Clinical analysis of 24 cases of caudate hemorrhage]

Twenty-four patients with caudate hemorrhage, in whom such definite organic lesions as arteriovenous malformations or ruptured cerebral aneurysms could not be proved, were analyzed. These cases comprise 2.0% of 1202 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage diagnosed by computed tomography and experienced from 1976 through 1987. Thirteen patients were male and 11 were female. Their average age was 61 years. Headache (67%) and nausea and vomiting (50%), which were often the initial symptoms, were similar to those of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The main clinical symptoms were signs of meningeal irritation. Ten patients (42%) had transient disturbance of consciousness, and nine (38%) of these were somnolent; only one patient, who had a massive hematoma, was stuporous. When the hematoma extended to the internal capsule, the patient showed motor disturbance (38%). Two patients (8%) had Horner's sign, five (21%) exhibited diminished activity, and one (4%) suffered anosognosia. The volume of the intracerebral hematoma averaged 4.7 ml and was less than 5 ml in 17 patients (71%). In 20 patients (83%), the hematoma was confined to the head of the caudate nucleus. The hemorrhage tended to rupture into the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle, and in nearly all cases (96%), intraventricular hematoma was observed. Seventeen patients (71%) underwent cerebral angiography. There were no instances of dilation of the recurrent artery of Heubner. Twenty patients (83%) were treated conservatively. Continuous ventricular drainage was employed in four patients (17%), and ventriculoperitoneal shunting in three (13%). However, it was judged retrospectively that continuous ventricular drainage had been necessary in only two cases in which disturbance of consciousness was progressed due to acute hydrocephalus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)