title: Multiple sclerosis simulating a mass lesion.
abstract: The cases of two young women with a homonymous hemianopia are described. Both women had a progressively enlarging mass lesion that was seen with neuroimaging studies. One patient had neurologic deterioration despite intravenous corticosteroid treatment. In each case, results of a stereotactic biopsy showed demyelination that was consistent with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis infrequently presents as a mass lesion. The atypical clinical and radiographic features of large demyelinating plaques may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of a brain tumor, infection, or demyelination from other causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006423:Hemianopsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008775:Methylprednisolone