title: Focal plaque of demyelination mimicking cerebral tumor in a pediatric patient.
abstract: Focal, demyelinating lesions of the cerebrum mimicking brain tumors are a rare phenomenon, and even rarer in a pediatric population. We document the case of a 14-year-old female whose clinical, radiological and operative findings were strongly suggestive of glioma. However, histopathology revealed a demyelinating process. This case is significant as the lesion could not be distinguished from a glioma at any time in the presentation. At 41 months follow-up, the patient remains stable without further evidence of demyelination in other areas of the brain. Such a case suggests a cautious note for the pediatrician when presented with a similar patient and illustrates the importance of consideration of a demyelinating lesion in the differential diagnosis of a mass lesion in a pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, Plains Health Center, University of Saskatchewan, Regina, Sask., Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement