Rapid spontaneous resolution of acute subdural hematoma and HIV related cerebral atrophy: case report.

BACKGROUND

The natural history of a traumatic acute subdural hematoma is usually interrupted by its prompt surgical removal. Rapid spontaneous resolution within 48 hours, although infrequently reported, may be, underestimated and demonstrates a benign course of this condition. To our knowledge, this is the first case of rapid spontaneous resolution of an acute subdural hematoma in a patient with HIV encephalopathy and cerebral atrophy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This 27-year-old man, an intravenous drug user with AIDS-related complex and HIV encephalopathy, suffered an acute subdural hematoma due to head injury in a car accident. The hematoma spontaneously resolved within 12 hours, resulting in a favorable outcome with nonoperative treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

AIDS related cerebral atrophy may not only have predisposed the patient to the development of an extracerebral collection, but may have also favorably influenced the spontaneous resolution of the hematoma. The mechanism of the hematoma resolution and the influence of HIV related cerebral atrophy is discussed.