Chronic Subdural Hematoma Caused by Hematological Diseases

The overall incidence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is 5 per 100,000 in the US population. The incidence of CSDH will increase in the future considering that the elderly population increases day by day. The increase in cancer and the use of antithrombotic agents reduce the proportion of those patients with head trauma that develop CSDH. Therefore CSDH is an important issue in patients using anticoagulant and/or antithrombotic medications. There are several studies in the literature that suggests the use of these agents either increases or does not change the incidence of CSDH. Patients with hematological malignancy are more likely to develop an intraparenchymal hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage compared to a subdural hematoma. However, as the life expectancy of patients with leukemia and lymphoma increases with new treatment alternatives, these patients are more likely to develop a CSDH. There are also several other hematological diseases that cause CSDH. In this chapter, the effects of antithrombotic and anticoagulant agents, hematological malignancies and diseases on CSDH occurrence are explained.