Hematoma
A hematoma is a collection of blood outside a blood vessel, often after trauma, surgery, or bleeding from another cause.
When to get help quickly: Urgent hospital review is important after major injury, if swelling is rapidly increasing, if there is severe pain, weakness, trouble breathing, or any concern about bleeding in the head, chest, or abdomen.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, and sometimes a firm lump. Deeper hematomas may cause pressure symptoms depending on where they are.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when a hematoma may be deep inside the body, large, getting bigger, or pressing on nearby structures, or when doctors need to check whether there is ongoing bleeding.
What radiology does
Ultrasound, CT, or MRI can help show where the blood is, how much is present, and whether there are complications.
What usually happens next
Some hematomas are watched, while others need drainage, surgery, or treatment of the bleeding source.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.