AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightEarly multimodality imaging is essential for accurate etiological diagnosis and timely management.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Aims: Pediatric non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (pNTIH) is an important cause of acute neurological morbidity with an etiological spectrum distinct from that of adults. This study aimed to evaluate the imaging findings, etiological distribution, and age-related characteristics of pNTIH in children. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 56 pediatric patients aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed with pNTIH between September 2022 and January 2026. Radiological evaluation included computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and advanced vascular imaging modalities, including CT angiography (CTA), MR angiography (MRA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Etiologies were determined using a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. Results: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was the most common etiology (23.2%), followed by cerebral aneurysm (14.3%) and venous ischemia-related hemorrhage (12.5%). AVM, venous ischemia, and cavernoma-related hemorrhages were more common in older children, whereas treatment related hemorrhage was more frequent in infants. Increasing age was associated with a higher likelihood of AVM-related hemorrhage (OR=1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.29; p=0.032). CTA was performed in 71.4% of patients, MRA in 53.6%, and DSA in 26.8%. Early mortality occurred in 3 patients (5.4%). Conclusion: Non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in children demonstrates age-dependent etiological variation. Early multimodality imaging is essential for accurate etiological diagnosis and timely management.