[Chronic subdural hematoma secondary to metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the dura mater and skull--a case report].

A 72 year-old woman was hospitalized with the complaint of headache and nausea. Under the diagnosis of right chronic subdural hematoma, a small craniotomy was performed for the total removal of the hematoma. The patient died 14 days after the operation because of the complication of acute DIC. Histologically, metastasis of adenocarcinoma was detected in the dura mater and skull. Previously reported cases of subdural hematoma secondary to cancer were reviewed in the literature. It is considered that a coagulation defect such as DIC may play a significant role in the development of subdural hematoma. It is suggested that the chronic subdural hematoma in the present case was caused by chronic DIC due to metastasis of bone marrow, and that the patient deteriorated as a result of acute DIC triggered by the surgical therapy.