Metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain mimicking hemorrhage: case report

BACKGROUND Computerized tomography (CT) of metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain usually shows low-to-moderate attenuation. However, mucinous adenomas may appear with high attenuation, mimicking hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION A 68-year-old man with a history of metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surgical neurology 1999-07, Vol.52 (1), p.46-49
Main Authors: Harrigan, Mark R, Gebarski, Stephen S, Messe, Steven R, Blaivas, Mila, McGillicuddy, John E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - diagnosis
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - diagnostic imaging
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - secondary
Aged
Brain metastases
Brain Neoplasms - diagnosis
Brain Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Brain Neoplasms - pathology
Brain Neoplasms - secondary
Cerebral Hemorrhage - diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
esophageal adenocarcinoma
Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology
Humans
intracranial hemorrhage
Male
mucin
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:BACKGROUND Computerized tomography (CT) of metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain usually shows low-to-moderate attenuation. However, mucinous adenomas may appear with high attenuation, mimicking hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION A 68-year-old man with a history of metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma presented to the emergency room complaining of a chronic, progressive right occipital headache. A head CT demonstrated a moderate-to-high attenuation, homogenous mass in the right cerebellar hemisphere consistent with an intracerebral hemorrhage. There was no frank calcification in the mass by CT criteria. An emergent posterior fossa craniectomy revealed nonhemorrhagic metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION Moderate-to-high attenuation, noncalcified brain masses should raise the possibility of mucin-containing neoplasm.
ISSN:0090-3019
1879-3339
DOI:10.1016/S0090-3019(99)00048-8