Diffuse dural gadolinium MRI enhancement associated with bilateral chronic subdural hematomas

Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) typically present with cognitive dysfunction and a history of trauma. Localized dural enhancement on postcontrast MRI scans associated with the surrounding membrane has been described in CSDH. We present an 83-year-old man with rapidly progressing cognitive dysfunction 4 weeks after head trauma related to a fall. MRI showed CSDHs, which in addition to localized dural gadolinium enhancement, showed a marked diffuse, symmetric, contiguous pachymeningeal enhancement of the supratentorial and infratentorial intracranial dural mater. Meningeal biopsy failed to disclose an infectious or neoplastic cause of the enhancement and instead showed fibrocollagenous change. We conclude that diffuse dural enhancement on MRI scans associated with CSDH cause does not necessarily indicate a superimposed process such as infection or malignancy. CSDH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diffuse dural enhancement, especially when supported by appropriate clinical findings.