Which hematoma is a venous bleed beneath the dura?

• A. Epidural Hematoma
• B. Subdural Hematoma
• C. Aura
• D. Cushing Triad

Answer: (B)

Subdural hematoma is a venous bleed beneath the dura. It occurs when bridging veins that connect the brain surface to the dural sinuses tear, so the bleeding tends to be slower and can accumulate over days to weeks—especially after minor trauma or in people with brain atrophy. On imaging, it forms a crescent-shaped collection that can cross suture lines but is limited by the dural attachments at the brain’s edges. This differs from an epidural hematoma, which is an arterial bleed between the skull and dura, usually from the middle meningeal artery, and typically appears as a lens-shaped collection with rapid onset after trauma. Aura and Cushing triad aren’t hematomas: aura relates to migraines or seizures, and Cushing triad describes signs of raised intracranial pressure rather than a specific hematoma type.