RESUMO
Prim ary subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH)is not uncommon in forensic autopsy.This paper reported 7 cases of primary SAH.Disputes about the cause of death arose because death occured after minor head injuries.Through thorough histopathological examination,causesof primary SAH in these 7 ca- ses were determined:arteriovenous malformation of the brain in 5 cases; aneurysm in 1 case;giant cell arteritis in 1 case.Causes of SAH were undeter- mined macroscopically in all these cases.The misdiagnosis of traumatic SAH were made in 4 reappraisal cases.Facts indicated the importance of thorough histopathological examination tor determining real causes of SAH. The literature was reviewed and the methods of histopathological exa- mination,as well as the attention it must paid were discussed.