MedTerms Medical Dictionary

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Hematoma: An abnormal localized collection of blood in which the blood is usually clotted or partially clotted and is usually situated within an organ or a soft tissue space, such as within a muscle.

A hematoma is caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel. The break may be spontaneous, as in the case of an aneurysm, or caused by trauma.

The treatment depends on the location and size of the hematoma, but can involves draining the accumulated blood. A hematoma in or near the brain is particularly dangerous.

The word "hematoma" came into usage around 1850. It was devised from Greek roots -- hemat-, referring to the blood + -oma, from soma meaning body = a bloody body, or a collection of blood.

The many different kinds of hematomas are defined by location and include:

• epidural hematoma,
• extradural hematoma,
• intracerebral hematoma,
• intracranial hematoma,
• nasal septum hematoma,
• subcutaneous hematoma,
• subdural hematoma.

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