Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings Predict the Recurrence of Chronic Subdural Hematoma

The exact predictive factors for postoperative recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) are still unknown. Based on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), low recurrence rate of T(1)-hyperintensity hematoma was previously reported. We investigated the other types of radiological findings which are related to the recurrence rate of CSDH in large number of patients analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Preoperative MRI and postoperative computed tomography (CT) were performed and the influence of the preoperative use of antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs was also studied. The overall recurrence rate was 9.3% (47 of 505 hematomas). The MRI T(1)-iso/hypointensity group showed a significantly higher recurrence rate (18.2%, 29 of 159) compared to the other groups (5.2%, 18 of 346; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed T(1) classification was the solo significant prognostic predictor among various factors such as bilateral hematoma, antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug usage, residual hematoma on postoperative CT, and MRI classification (p < 0.001): adjusted odds ratio for the recurrence in T(1)-iso/hypointensity group relative to the T(1)-hyperintensity group was 5.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.09–14.86] (p = 0.001). Postoperative residual hematoma and antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug usage did not increase the recurrence risk. The preoperative MRI findings, especially T(1)WI findings, have predictive value for postoperative recurrence of CSDH and the T(1)-iso/hypointensity group can be assumed to be a high recurrence risk group.