Typically a region of hyperdensity is demonstrated centered on the basal ganglia or thalamus. Not infrequently there may be an extension into the ventricles, with occasionally the parenchymal component being very small or inapparent.

If there is no intraventricular extension, the volume of the hemorrhage may be estimated by ABC/2 and related formulas, which may have neurosurgical and prognostic implications.

There are many predictors of hematoma expansion potentially evident on CT see Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage expansion

The appearance of hemorrhage on MRI varies with time and to some degree the size of the hematoma (see aging blood on MRI).