A Chronic Subdural Hematoma Associated with Thrombasthenia : A Case Report

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 15-year-old boy with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and a chronic subdural hematoma. At 3 years of age, based on hematological studies at their hospital, this patient was diagnosed as having thrombasthenia. On May 13, 1991, he was admitted to hospital because of a headache and nausea. A CT scan of the head revealed a left subdural hematoma. Further, his bleeding time was markedly prolonged. Therefore, after a transfusion of fresh blood and platelets, a craniotomy was performed, and his post-operative course has been excellent. Glanzmann's thrombathenia is a rare congenital platelet disorder characterized by a prolonged bleeding time, a qualitative platelet defect, and severe hemorrhagic episodes. However, cases of an intracranial hematoma associated with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia are rare. The authors wish to stress the importance of a CT scan of the head for thrombasthenia patients with a tendency to bleed, because a chronic subdural hematoma does not always show specific symptoms, and the hematoma can be treated in such patients by a simple burrhole operation.