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Intracranial hemorrhage is a form of stroke (see Chap. 426). Compared to ischemic stroke, patients with intracranial hemorrhage are more likely to present with headache; however, brain imaging is required to distinguish these entities. CT imaging of the head is highly sensitive and specific for intracranial hemorrhage and determines the location(s) of bleeding. Hemorrhages are classified by their location and the underlying vascular pathology. Hemorrhage directly into the brain parenchyma, also known as intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain will be considered here. Other categories of hemorrhage include bleeding into subdural and epidural spaces, usually caused by trauma (Chap 443), and subarachnoid hemorrhage due to trauma or the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm (Chap. 429).
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Intracranial hemorrhage is often identified on noncontrast CT imaging of the brain during the acute evaluation of stroke. Because CT is more widely available and may be logistically easier to perform than MRI, CT imaging is generally the preferred method for acute stroke evaluation (Fig. 428-1). The location of the hemorrhage narrows the differential diagnosis to a few entities. Table 428-1 lists the causes and anatomic spaces involved in hemorrhages.
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Close attention should be paid to airway management ...