Possibility of delayed cerebral infarction after pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

A pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been accepted as a "benign" entity. Here we present two patients with delayed cerebral infarction following pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHODS

Case report.

RESULTS

Two patients with possible delayed cerebral infarction after pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified. Both patients developed basilar artery vasospasm within 2 weeks of their bleeding events. Although they remained clinically asymptomatic, the location and the timing of infarction implicated the observed focal arterial vasospasm.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should bear in mind the possibility of arterial vasospasm and ensuing cerebral infarction in patients with pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.