Final answer:
The possible diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is often supported when a subdural hematoma is found in an infant because this type of hematoma is commonly associated with the violent shaking that characterizes this syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The possible diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is supported when an infant brought to the emergency department is found to have a subdural hematoma. A shaken baby syndrome diagnosis involves a constellation of medical symptoms that result from violently shaking or impacting an infant's head, leading to conditions such as brain swelling and retinal hemorrhage.
Subdural hematoma occurs when blood collects between the brain surface and the dura mater, which is the outermost of the three layers that cover the brain and spine. It is the most common type of cerebral hematoma found in infants with shaken baby syndrome. This condition presents a severe risk because the delicate blood vessels between the skull and the brain may rupture due to the sudden, forceful movement, causing bleeding in the subdural space.