Journal of forensic sciences
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Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a rare type of stroke defined as bleeding within the ventricles of the brain without any associated parenchymal hemorrhage. Here, we reported two cases of sudden death due to PIVH. One of the patients was found dead under a highway bridge without witnesses, and the other patient was hospitalized with hemorrhage in the ventricular system, as revealed by a head computed tomography scan. ⋯ The sources of bleeding for both patients were ultimately confirmed as ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations located in the subventricular zone. We reported these cases to broaden our understanding of sudden death associated with PIVH, especially when caused by brain arteriovenous malformation. We also summarized the essential details of the diagnoses and available technical methods for PIVH cases.