Intracerebral haematoma: aetiology and haematoma volume determine the amount and progression of brain oedema.

In a study of 182 patients with a traumatic, 'spontaneous', or aneurysmal intracerebral haematoma (ICH) a significant correlation was found between the amount of focal brain oedema seen on computed tomogram (CT) and both the aetiology and the size of the haematoma. Traumatic haematomas were associated with twice the oedema per unit volume of haematoma, and a doubling of median oedema volume on second CT (performed in 18 patients), compared to spontaneous or aneurysmal haematomas.