A collection of blood within the substance of the brain
Risk factors/causes:
- hypertension
- vascular lesion (e.g. aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation)
- cerebral amyloid angiopathy
- trauma
- brain tumour or infarct (particularly in stroke patients undergoing thrombolysis)
PC
Patients will present similar to an ischaemics stroke (which is why it is crucial to obtain a CT in head in all stroke patients prior to thrombolysis) or with a decrease in consciousness.
- Sudden onset headache
- Decrease in consciousness and confusion
- Balance issues
- Nausea and vomitting
Investigations