Skip to main content
Log in

Subarachnoid fluid collection in infants complicated by subdural hematoma

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Child's Nervous System Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the natural history of infantile extracerebral fluid collections, subarachnoid fluid collection itself if regarded as a benign lesion, and surgical treatment is not indicated. As this condition is age-related and self-limiting, spontaneous resolution can be expected in most cases by 2–3 years of age. However, out of 20 cases of infantile subarachnoid fluid collection in an 8-year period, 3 infants developed subdural hematoma. Infantile subarachnoid fluid collection seems to be prone to complicate subdural hematoma. Surgical treatment should be considered when subarachnoid fluid collection is complicated by subdural hematoma due to arachnoid ruptures or tearing of the bridging veins. Therefore, all patients should be observed closely and measures should be taken to prevent head trauma since it may precipitate subdural hematoma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alvarez LA, Maytal J, Shinnar S (1986) Idiopathic external hydrocephalus: natural history and relationship to benign familiar macrocephaly. Pediatrics 77:901–907

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andersson H, Elfverson J, Svendsen P (1984) External hydrocephalus in infants. Child's Brain 11:398–402

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aoki N, Masuzawa H (1984) Infantile acute subdural hematoma. Clinical analysis of 26 cases. J Neurosurg 61:273–280

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bode H, Strassburg HM (1987) Craniocerebral disproportion. A contribution to the significance of extracerebral fluid collections in infancy. Klin Pädiatr 199:399–402

    Google Scholar 

  5. Briner S, Bodensteiner J (1980) Benign subdural collections in infancy. Pediatrics 67:802–804

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chapman PH (1983) External hydrocephalus. Concepts Pediatr Neurosurg 4:102–118

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dandy WE, Blackfan KD (1914) Internal hydrocephalus: an experimental clinical and pathological study. Am Dis Child 8:406–482

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kendall B, Hollan I (1981) Benign communicating hydrocephalus in children. Neuroradiology 21:93–96

    Google Scholar 

  9. Maytal J, Alvarez LA, Elkin CM, Shinnar S (1987) External hydrocephalus: radiologic spectrum and differentiation from cerebral atrophy. AJNR 8:271–278

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ment LR, Duncan CC, Geehr R (1981) Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces in the infant. J Neurosurg 54:504–508

    Google Scholar 

  11. Modic MT, Kaufman B, Bonstelle CT, Tomsick T, Weinstein MA (1981) Megalocephaly and hypodense extracerebral fluid collections. Radiology 141:93–100

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mori K (1990) Hydrocephalus—revision of its definition and classification with special reference to “intractable infantile hydrocephalus”. Child's Nerv Syst 6:198–204

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mori K, Handa H, Itoh H, Okuno T (1980) Benign subdural effusion in infants. J Comput Assist Tomogr 4:466–471

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nickel RE, Grallenstein JS (1987) Developmental prognosis for infants with benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces. Dev Med Child Neurol 29:181–186

    Google Scholar 

  15. Njiokiktjien CJ, Valk J, Ponssen H (1980) Subdural hygroma: results of treatment by ventriculo-abdominal shunt. Child's Brain 7:285–302

    Google Scholar 

  16. Raimondi AJ (1987) Pediatric neurosurgery. Theoretic principles, art of surgical techniques. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg, pp 453–491

    Google Scholar 

  17. Robertson WC Jr, Gomez MR (1978) External hydrocephalus. Early finding in congenital communicating hydrocephalus. Arch Neurol 35:541–544

    Google Scholar 

  18. Robertson WC Jr, Chun RWM, Orrison WW, Sackett JF (1979) Benign subdural collections of infancy. J Pediatr 94:382–385

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sahar A (1978) Pseudohydrocephalus-megalocephaly, increased intracranial pressure and widened subarachnoid space. Neuropädiatrie 9:131–139

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mori, K., Sakamoto, T., Nishimura, K. et al. Subarachnoid fluid collection in infants complicated by subdural hematoma. Child's Nerv Syst 9, 282–284 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306274

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306274

Key words

Navigation