title: Posterior fossa aneurysms simulating tumours.
abstract: Seven cases of aneurysm of the vertebral and basilar arteries, in which the clinical features suggested a diagnosis of posterior fossa tumour, are presented. Their clinical manifestations and the difficulties of diagnosis are discussed. These lesions may mimic cerebellopontine angle tumours or brain-stem gliomas, or, less commonly, the picture is one of a compressive lesion at the foramen magnum. The need for vertebral angiography is emphasized. Exploratory surgery carries a high risk, and is to be avoided.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*