An uncommon case of brainstem tumor with selective involvement of the respiratory centers.
We report a clinical case of a young man with a brainstem tumor with a stable alveolar hypoventilation syndrome as the only symptom of the disease. The ventilatory response to CO2 was almost absent and the ventilatory pattern during tidal breathing was very irregular. The diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and confirmed by a stereotactic brain biopsy specimen.
Valente
S
S
Respiratory Physiology Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
De Rosa
M
M
Culla
G
G
Corbo
G M
GM
Ciappi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001933:Brain Stem; D006801:Humans; D007040:Hypoventilation / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000209:etiology