Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) with membranes is a common problem in
neurosurgery. Despite its frequency, the pathogenesis of this lesion
is poorly understood. We conducted a systematic pathologic review, wit
h clinical correlation, of all CSDH presenting to our institution over
a two-year period which had undergone pathological examination. Surpr
isingly, we found marked tissue eosinophilia in most CSDH membranes in
the process of organization. Eosinophils were not evident in fresh he
morrhage or in older membranes which were completely organized. These
results demonstrated that eosinophils are frequently present in large
numbers in the early phases of chronic subdural membrane (CSM) formati
on but not associated with chronic, organized membranes. No specific c
linical cause for tissue eosinophilia was identified in the cases revi
ewed. Though the significance of these observations remains unclear, r
ecognition of eosinophilia as a pathological feature of organizing CSM
is important in order to avoid confusion with other diagnoses.