Intracranial malignant glioma presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Cerebral aneurysms are the predominant cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, if an aneurysmal cause has been excluded, there remains but a short list of other potential etiologies. Cerebral neoplasms are clearly on this list but are most commonly meningiomas or metastatic lesions. This article details a case of a neoplasm that presented exclusively with SAH.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION:

A 40-year-old male presented with a SAH with normal cerebral angiography. The initial magnetic resonance image revealed a lesion in the right insula thought to be resolving hemorrhage. Subsequent images, however, revealed the mass to be enlarging.

INTERVENTION:

Craniotomy and resection of the lesion established a diagnosis of a malignant oligodendroglioma.

CONCLUSION:

An affirmation is made that patients experiencing 'angiographically-negative' SAH should undergo MRI, occasionally on a serial basis, to exclude other etiologies for hemorrhage, including neoplasia.

• Authors: Stephen Hentschel, Brian Toyota
• Journal: The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques (Can J Neurol Sci) Vol. 30 Issue 1 Pg. 63-6 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0317-1671 [Print] England
• PMID: 12619787 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants

Topics

• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Brain Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Cerebral Angiography
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neurosurgical Procedures
• Oligodendroglioma (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Seizures (drug therapy, etiology)
• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (etiology)