Spontaneous subgaleal hemorrhage in a girl with impaired adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation

Abstract

Introduction: Subgaleal hematomas usually develop followed a birth trauma in neonates. This entity is extremely rare in older children and may be associated with coagulation disorders or subaponeurotic vascular malformations. Case Report: The authors report a spontaneous subgaleal hematoma in a 9-year-old girl without scalp injury. Only platelet aggregation test was identified as an impaired responsiveness of platelets to adrenaline with normal coagulogram. This patient underwent both computerized tomography and complete magnetic resonance imaging including angiography and venography of the head. Of these, extensive bilateral frontotemperoparietal subgaleal hematoma was observed without vascular malformation. Conclusion: Spontaneous subgaleal hematoma can be associated with platelet function defect.