Subarachnoid haemorrhage following rupture of an ophthalmic artery aneurysm presenting as traumatic brain injury

Head trauma may provoke subarachnoid haemorrhage. The question sometimes arises whether in patients with trauma and subarachnoid haemorrhage the latter is of traumatic or aneurysmal origin. We present a 49-year-old patient who fell from a truck, struck his head and was unconscious immediately. On the brain computed tomography (CT) scan subarachnoid haemorrhage was present, initially diagnosed as of traumatic origin. Four-vessel angiography revealed rupture of a left ophthalmic artery aneurysm. We review the literature and give recommendations for angiography in patients with trauma and subarachnoid haemorrhage. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.