Subdural Hemorrhage Related to Vitamin K Deficiency in an Infant with Choledochal Cyst

Abstract

Subdural hemorrhage with retinal hemorrhage in infancy is a common finding that is usually observed in cases of abusive head trauma [1,2]. If a subdural hemorrhage is observed on postmortem examination or clinical image study in a pediatric case, the possibility of child abuse should be considered and the attending physician has a legal obligation to report a suspected child abuse case to the police or the National Center for the Right of the Child. However, given that subdural hemorrhage can also occur in metabolic disorders, clotting disorders, and in other medical conditions [1,2], subdural hemorrhage encountered in a pediatric case should not be automatically considered as head trauma, and it is necessary that the case be meticulously and cautiously reviewed. We experienced a rare case in which the possibility of child abuse was initially suspected, but later considered as spontaneous subdural hemorrhage related to vitamin K deficiency in an infant with a choledochal cyst. Korean J Leg Med 2020;44:163-168 https://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2020.44.4.163