Conservative treatment of selected cases of chronic paracerebral hematoma

: The authors report an analysis of the course of 16 cases treated conservatively for paracerebral haematomas. The diagnosis was based on angiographic findings of computerized tomography (CT). Haematoma resorption was confirmed by CT. The follow-up was from 3 months to 6 years. The patients were in a general good condition without or with only transient signs of focal central nervous system damage, the thickness of the haematomas was never over 15 mm. In all cases the haematomas were resorbed, 15 patients feel well and lead an active life, in one case signs of organic brain injury developed connected with dilatation of the ventricular system and cortico-subcortical atrophy. In the light of the observed material and a literature review criteria are suggested which could indicate expected good effects of conservative treatment in such cases.