Cerebral fluid edema: an unusual complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
BACKGROUND
A case of accumulation of CSF into the brain parenchyma simulating a brain tumor, secondary to an obstructed ventriculoperitoneal shunt, is presented. Until now, only seven cases of this rare complication have been described.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance showed an expansive, low-density intracranial lesion on the right frontal and parietal lobe. This mass was biopsied, but no tumor was found and the diagnosis was brain edema.


CONCLUSIONS
The mistake in the diagnosis was due to the clinical symptoms and to the MR images.
Villarejo
F J
FJ
La Luz Clinic, General Rodrigo 8, 28003, Madrid, Spain. fvillarejo@apdo.com
Pascual
A
A
Carceller
F
F
Bencosme
J A
JA
Pérez Díaz
C
C
Goyenechea
F
F
D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000295:instrumentation*