Nontraumatic Intracranial Epidural Hematoma: Systematic Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction Epidural hematoma (EDH) is generally a direct sequela of head injury. Spontaneous EDH is rarely described in the literature. Spontaneous EDH can be caused by infections of adjacent regions, vascular malformations of the dura mater, metastases to the bone skull, and disorders of blood coagulation. The preferred treatment is surgical. The prognosis is directly related to the size, location, and Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission and the underlying disease.

Methods A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We performed the search in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases. Abstracts and articles were screened according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results The literature review yielded 1,156 records from the databases, of which a total of 164 full-text articles were included in the final synthesis, plus 22 additional relevant studies. A total of 89 case report studies were included, providing 95 unique patients. There was a predominance of coagulopathies as the main etiology of spontaneous EDH. A total of 45.3% of the patients presented lesions in > 1 brain lobe. The frontal lobe was the most prevalent location of EDH. The most used neuroimaging exam was computed tomography (CT). Surgical intervention was the most common treatment performed. A total of 24.2% of the patients died.

Conclusion Nontraumatic EDH represents an uncommon manifestation of several pathologies. Clinical investigation should be aware of such a possibility. Healthcare professionals should value the physical examination and clinical history of the patient. Given the scarcity of information on the pathogenesis of spontaneous EDH, further studies are needed to better define intervention strategies and therapies for these patients.

Resumo

Introdução Geralmente, o hematoma epidural (HED) é decorrente de traumatismo cranioencefálico. O HED espontâneo tem sido ocasionado por infecção de áreas adjacentes, malformação vascular na dura-máter, metástases para osso do crânio e doenças da coagulação sanguínea. Seu prognóstico está diretamente relacionado com o tamanho, a localização, o escore na escala de coma de Glasgow na admissão e a doença de base.

Metodologia Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi conduzida e seguiu as diretrizes Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA, na sigla em inglês). Realizamos a pesquisa nos bancos de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase e Scopus. Os resumos e artigos foram selecionados de acordo com os nossos critérios de inclusão e exclusão.

Resultados A revisão da literatura resultou em 1,156 registros nas bases de dados, dos quais um total de 164 artigos com texto completo foram incluídos na síntese final; mais 22 estudos relevantes foram adicionados. Um total de 89 estudos de caso foi incluído, fornecendo 95 pacientes únicos. Havia uma predominância de coagulopatias como a principal etiologia do HED espontâneo. Um total de 45,3% dos pacientes apresentava lesões em > 1 lobo cerebral. A intervenção cirúrgica foi o tratamento mais comum realizado. Um total de 24,2% dos pacientes morreu.

Conclusão Hematoma epidural não traumático representa uma manifestação incomum de várias patologias. A investigação clínica deve estar atenta a tal possibilidade e os profissionais de saúde devem valorizar o exame físico e a história clínica do paciente. Dada a escassez de informações sobre a etiopatogenia do HED, mais estudos são necessários para melhor definir estratégias de intervenção e terapias para estes pacientes.

Keywords

spontaneous epidural hematoma - intracranial - nontraumatic - extradural hematoma

Palavras-chave

hematoma epidural espontâneo - intracraniano - não traumático - hematoma epidural

Publication History

Received: 07 February 2022

Accepted: 22 June 2022

Article published online:
27 October 2022

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