Cerebrospinal fluid collected in three sequential tubes shows equal red cell counts in all three tubes, and the supernatant is xanthochromic. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
1Traumatic tap
2Normal finding
3Subarachnoid hemorrhage✓ 정답
4Bacterial meningitis
해설
With a traumatic tap the red cell count falls in successive tubes. An equal count in all three tubes indicates pre-existing hemorrhage, and xanthochromia shows that enough time has passed for hemoglobin to break down. Together the two findings indicate subarachnoid hemorrhage.