Intraventricular hemorrhage in adults.

A series of 54 adult patients with intraventricular hemorrhage diagnosed by computed tomography (CT scan) is described. Hypertension, arterial aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) accounted for 83% of the cases. Three categories of clinical presentation are defined. CT scan reliably demonstrated the presence and distribution of blood within the ventricular system, including the third and fourth ventricles. The increased density caused by intraventricular blood was seen to disappear in 12 days. An intracerebral hematoma was identified in 78% of cases. Surgical treatment was beneficial in only a small number of cases.