====== Spontaneous basal ganglia hemorrhage ======


Usually as a result of poorly controlled long-standing [[hypertension]].

It is probably not a factor in at least 35 % of basal ganglion hemorrhages.

The stigmata of chronic hypertensive encephalopathy are often present.

Most of the cases are spontaneous unilateral hemorrhage, and the volume of blood is usually < 30 cc 
((Lang EW, Ren Ya Z, et al. Stroke pattern interpretation: the variability of hypertensive versus amyloid angiopathy hemorrhage. Cerbrovasc Dis. 2001;12:121–30.)).

===== Pathology =====

Long-standing poorly controlled hypertension leads to a variety of pathological changes in the vessels.

microaneurysms of perforating arteries ([[Microaneurysms of Charcot-Bouchard]]) 

small (0.3-0.9 mm) diameter aneurysms that occur on small (0.1-0.3 mm) diameter arteries
a distribution that matches incidence of hypertensive haemorrhages 

80% lenticulostriate

10% pons

10% cerebellum

found in hypertensive patients
may thrombose, leak (see cerebral microhaemorrhages) or rupture 

accelerated atherosclerosis: affects larger vessels

hyaline arteriosclerosis

hyperplastic arteriosclerosis: seen in very elevated and protracted cases