Cerebral amyloid angiopathy as cause of convexity SAH in elderly

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous convexity SAH in the elderly has heretofore been of uncertain origin until several recent case reports have suggested cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) as the etiology.

Objective: To better appreciate the relationship of convexity SAH in the elderly to CAA.

Method: The case histories and MR imaging findings of 4 patients with spontaneous convexity SAH were examined.

Results: T2*-weighted imaging at the time of symptomatic SAH demonstrated features of prior lobar hemorrhage, microbleeds, and/or superficial hemosiderosis fulfilling diagnostic criteria of CAA in all patients.

Conclusions: CAA may be the foremost cause of convexity SAH in the elderly.