haematoma

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haematoma (heem-ă-toh-mă) n. an accumulation of blood within the tissues that clots to form a solid swelling. Injury, disease of the blood vessels, or a clotting disorder of the blood are the usual causative factors. extradural h. a haematoma caused by tearing of the middle meningeal artery, as a result of injury to the head. intracerebral h. a haematoma caused by bleeding into the brain resulting either from atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries and high blood pressure or from severe head injury. subdural h. (SDH) a haematoma caused by tearing of the veins where they cross the space beneath the dura. See also perianal haematoma.

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