Diagnostic evaluation for nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating condition with multiple possible underlying causes. Early diagnosis of ICH associated with a precise diagnostic work-up is mandatory. Clinical signs may give clues to diagnosis but are not reliable enough and imaging remains the cornerstone of management. Noncontrast computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are highly sensitive for ICH identification. Additionally, MRI may disclose brain parenchymal biomarkers that can contribute to the etiologic diagnosis. Vessel examination should be carried out whenever there is a clinical suspicion of underlying structural lesions, such as vascular malformations or tumors. To date, conventional angiography remains the gold standard to detect intracranial vascular malformations in patients with ICH.