A subdural hematoma is bleeding between the brain surface and the membrane covering it, often after head injury or in older patients.
Symptoms can include headache, drowsiness, confusion, weakness on one side, slurred speech, vomiting, balance problems, or personality and memory changes, sometimes hours or even weeks after a head injury.
Imaging helps confirm the bleed, show how much pressure it is putting on the brain, and determine whether it looks acute, subacute, or chronic.
CT is often the first imaging test because it quickly shows the blood and any pressure effect on the brain.
Treatment ranges from monitoring to urgent neurosurgical drainage depending on size, symptoms, and brain compression.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
