What is the medical name for a brain bleed?

Medical Names for Brain Bleeding

The medical term for brain bleeding is "intracranial hemorrhage," which refers to any bleeding within the intracranial vault, including the brain parenchyma and surrounding meningeal spaces. 1, 2

Types of Intracranial Hemorrhage

Intracranial hemorrhage encompasses several specific types of bleeding based on location:

1. Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

   • Bleeding confined to the brain parenchyma or ventricles
   • Most commonly due to hypertension
   • Accounts for approximately 10% of all strokes 3
   • Locations in descending order of frequency: deep/ganglionic, lobar, cerebellar, and brain stem 3

2. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)

   • Bleeding into the subarachnoid space
   • Often caused by ruptured aneurysms

3. Subdural Hematoma

   • Bleeding between the dura mater and the brain

4. Epidural Hematoma

   • Bleeding between the skull and the dura mater

5. Intraventricular Hemorrhage

   • Bleeding into the ventricular system of the brain

Clinical Categories of Intracranial Hemorrhage

According to JAMA Network Open, intracranial hemorrhages can be further categorized as 1:

1. Noncoagulopathic spontaneous ICH
2. Coagulopathic spontaneous ICH
3. Noncoagulopathic traumatic intracranial hemorrhage
4. Coagulopathic traumatic intracranial hemorrhage

Diagnostic Classification

Intracranial hemorrhages may also be classified as:

• Overt/Symptomatic: Causing neurological dysfunction
• Covert: Imaging or neuropathological evidence of bleeding without acute neurological symptoms 1

Risk Factors

Common risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage include:

• Hypertension (most common)
• Cerebral amyloid angiopathy
• Advanced age
• Antithrombotic therapy
• History of cerebrovascular disease 3
• Congenital bleeding disorders (particularly Factor XIII deficiency) 4

Diagnosis

Non-contrast CT scan is the standard first-line diagnostic tool for detecting intracranial hemorrhage and should be completed within 45 minutes of emergency department arrival 5, 3. CT angiography may be considered to evaluate for underlying vascular malformations or aneurysms in patients with confirmed ICH 5.

Clinical Significance

Intracranial hemorrhage is a neurological emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. The risk of progressive bleeding is greater for all forms of intracranial hemorrhage when detected earlier on baseline CT scans and when coagulopathy is present 1.

Understanding the specific type of intracranial hemorrhage is crucial for appropriate management, as treatment approaches may differ based on the location, cause, and severity of the bleeding.