Rapid natural resolution of intracranial hematoma.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of intracranial hematoma and the mechanism involved in its rapid natural resolution.

Methods: Seventeen cases of intracranial hematoma with typical clinical and CT manifestations were retrospectively studied.

Results: Intracranial hematoma was found obviously decreased in size within 72 h after its occurrence in 8 cases. The rest 9 cases presented complete resolution.

Conclusions: Rapid natural resolution of acute epidural hematoma is mostly found in teenagers and the resolution is correlated with cranial fracture at the hematoma site. As for acute subdural hematoma, its rapid resolution is associated with the transfer of cerebrospinal fluid toward subdural space, the lavage effect, and the compression caused by the increased intracranial pressure or the space left resulting from redistribution of the hematoma in brain atrophy.