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Brain herniation

Last revised by Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Kamesh on 10 Nov 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Dawes L, Abu Kamesh M, Mellam Y, et al. Brain herniation. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1082

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1082

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/1082

rID:

1082

Article created:

2 May 2008, Laughlin Dawes

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Laughlin Dawes had no recorded disclosures.

View Laughlin Dawes's current disclosures

Last revised:

10 Nov 2024, Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Kamesh

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Kamesh had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Kamesh's current disclosures

Revisions:

20 times, by 16 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System, Trauma

Sections:

Gamuts

Tags:

core condition

Synonyms:

Acquired intracranial herniation
Cerebral herniation
Brain hernia
Brain herniae
Brain hernias
Cerebellar herniation

Brain herniation, also referred to as acquired intracranial herniation, refers to shift of brain tissue from its normal location, into an adjacent space as a result of mass effect. It is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis.

Pathology

There are a number of different patterns of brain herniation that describe the type of herniation occurring:

subfalcine herniation
transalar herniation: ascending and descending
transtentorial herniation
- downward: uncal herniation and central herniation
- upward: ascending transtentorial herniation
tonsillar herniation
extracranial (transcalvarial) herniation
paradoxical brain herniation

Etiology

Any intracranial mass can have this effect:

intracranial hemorrhage
cerebral swelling
- cerebral infarction
- peritumoural or periabscess edema
tumors
cerebral abscess

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