How are brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhage) diagnosed?

How are brain bleeds (intracranial hemorrhage) diagnosed?

A doctor will examine you immediately if any type of brain hemorrhage is suspected. Diagnosis is usually made based on the results of:

• An evaluation of your physical symptoms.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) of your brain. These imaging tests determine the location, extent and sometimes the cause of the bleed.

Other tests may include:

• Electroencephalogram, chest X-ray, and/or urinalysis.
• Complete vascular study, complete blood count (CBC), and/or blood studies.
• Spinal tap to examine the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain.
• In some cases, conventional angiography may be done to identify an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation.