It generally occurs in small arteries or arterioles and is commonly due to hypertension, intracranial vascular malformations (including
cavernous angiomas or
arteriovenous malformations), cerebral
amyloid angiopathy, or infarcts into which secondary hemorrhage has occurred. Other potential causes are trauma,
bleeding disorders,
amyloid angiopathy,
illicit drug use (e.g., amphetamines or
cocaine). The hematoma enlarges until pressure from surrounding tissue limits its growth, or until it decompresses by emptying into the
ventricular system,
CSF or the pial surface. A third of intracerebral bleed is into the brain's ventricles. ICH has a
mortality rate of 44 percent after 30 days, higher than ischemic stroke or
subarachnoid hemorrhage (which technically may also be classified as a type of stroke).