OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to covering how a subdural hemorrhage will appear on different types of radiological imaging studies.
BASIC CHARACTERISTICS
A subdural hematoma/hemorrhage refers to bleeding that occurs in the space underneath the dura but above arachnoid membranes. It can occur either in the brain or the spinal cord.
![Anatomical location of a subdural hematoma. Not the bridging vein that is torn leading to the venous bleeding in subdural space (source)](http://www.stepwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/maxresdefault.jpg)
Here are some general radiological features of a subdural hemorrhage:
- Shape: the characteristic description of the shape of a subdural hemorrhage is “crescent-shaped”.
- Suture lines: the bleeding of a subdural hemorrhage will be able to cross the suture lines of the skull.
NON-CONTRAST HEAD CT SCAN
A non-contrast CT-scan is the preferred study used to evaluate for intracranial bleeding. Because of this, it is useful to appreciate how a subdural hemorrhage will appear on this scan. Make sure to review how to read non-contrast head CT scans, as well as the archive of unremarkable non-contrast head CT scans as a reference point.
The archive below organizes different examples of how a subdural hemorrhage will appear on a non-contrast head CT-scan. Click on the thumbnails below to view the archive.