[Features of intracranial hypertension as a manifestation of cauda equina tumor].
A 61-year-old man was admitted to the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Białystok with signs of intracranial hypertension associated with headaches and papilledema, with no other signs of the nervous system dysfunction. CT and MRI brain scans were normal, cerebrospinal fluid contained 1620 mg/dl of proteins. One month later epileptic seizures with a loss of consciousness occurred. Brain CT and MRI scans showed no focal pathology and failed to disclose any intracranial tumor. The acute pain in the lumbar spine region made us perform an MRI scan of the lower spinal cord, which disclosed cauda equina tumor. The tumor was surgically removed and it was histopathologically concluded to be ependymoma. After the operation there were neither headaches nor seizures and we noticed an improvement in his vision acuity. In the postoperative course the patient suffered from urinary and bowel dysfunction. In this article we discuss a pathogenesis of intracranial hypertension occurring in spinal cord tumors and stress the need for a diagnosis of spinal cord lesions in patients with the elevated intracranial pressure.
Drozdowski
Wiesław
W
Klinika Neurologii, Akademia Medyczna, ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Białystok. drozdowski@cksr.ac.bialystok.pl
Pogorzelski
Robert
R
D002420:Cauda Equina; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome