Intracranial tumours that mimic transient cerebral ischaemia: lessons from a large multicentre trial. The UK TIA Study Group.
The clinical records of patients withdrawn from the UK-TIA Aspirin Trial after identification of a brain tumour were reviewed. Certain features of transient focal neurological dysfunction were associated with an underlying brain tumour rather than transient ischaemia: a) focal jerking or shaking; b) pure sensory phenomena; c) loss of consciousness; d) isolated aphasia or speech arrest. In several patients the misdiagnosis occurred because these features were interpreted as the sequelae of previous ischaemic damage. When a transient focal neurological attack is associated with any of these features, a brain tumour must be considered. If patients later develop epilepsy the diagnosis of cerebral ischaemia should be reviewed.
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology