Terson's syndrome in the context of intracranial hemorrhage.

A 62-year-old man was admitted with a hypertensive emergency, anisocoria and decreased level of consciousness. The CT scan showed a hemorrhage in the brainstem and an intraocular hemorrhage (Figure), consistent with Terson’s syndrome, a condition that is classically characterized as a vitreous hemorrhage secondary to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, it can also be considered as a traumatic hemorrhage and, more rarely, as an intraparenchymal hemorrhage. The etiology has been attributed to a rapid increase in intracranial pressure, resulting in reduced retinal venous drainage and leading to vitreous bleeding. Terson’s syndrome is associated a high rate of morbidity and mortality not only in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage1,2,3,4,5.