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Brain
Brain
Brain hernia
Brain hernia
OverviewSymptomsTreatmentPrevention

Brain herniation

Definition:
Brain herniation is the mechanical displacement of brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood vessels outside the compartments in the head that they normally occupy.

Alternative Names:
Herniation syndrome; Transtentorial herniation; Uncal herniation; Subfalcine herniation; Tonsillar herniation; Herniation - brain

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Brain herniation occurs when pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure) increases and displaces brain tissues. This is commonly the result of brain swelling from a head injury. It can also be caused by space-occupying lesions such as primary brain tumor, metastatic brain tumor, and hemorrhages or strokes that produce swelling within the brain.

Brain herniation itself often causes massive stroke, resulting from poor blood supply to some areas of brain and compression of vital structures that compromise cardiovascular and respiratory centers. This can rapidly lead to death or brain death.

Brain herniations are the most common secondary effect of expanding intracranial masses.



Review Date: 11/16/2002
Reviewed By: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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