Jet hematoma

A jet hematoma or flame hemorrhage is a term used to describe an intraparenchymal hematoma adjacent to a ruptured intracranial berry aneurysm caused when the ruptured aneurysm abuts a lobe of the brain and the pressure of the blood leaving the aneurysm dissects into the brain parenchyma.

Pathology

Location
  • inferior frontal lobe - ruptured ACOM, A1, A2 or M1 aneurysm
  • anterior temporal lobe - ruptured M1 aneurysm
  • medial temporal lobe - rupture PCOM aneurysm

There is a high association with concomitant subdural hemorrhage from the aneurysmal rupture.

Radiographic features

CT
  • elongated hyperdense hematoma in the periphery of the affect lobe
  • the hematoma often 'points' to the site of the ruptured aneurysm, appearing continuous with the subarachnoid space
  • if large enough, the aneurysm may cause a filling defect in the hematoma
  • associated subarachnoid hemorrhage
Stroke and intracranial haemorrhage