title: Intracranial hypertension as an initial manifestation of spinal neuroectodermal tumor.
abstract: A 19-year-old girl had headaches, blurred vision and vomiting for 2 weeks. Neurological examination revealed only bilateral papilloedema and left abducens palsy. Neuroimaging of the brain was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid study showed intracranial hypertension (IH), hypoglycorrhachia, hyperproteinorrhachia, and a negative cytology study. Eight months after the onset, paraparesis occurred. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging showed intramedullary masses at the cervical and thoracic cords with extensive seeding. Biopsy of the mass showed primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). IH rarely occurs in patients with spinal cord neoplasms. Its incidence is low and the condition is always associated with signs of myelopathy. We report a patient whose initial manifestation of spinal PNET was IH only. Spinal tumor should be considered in IH patients whose intracranial examinations are negative.
authors: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199 Tung Hwa North Road, 10591 Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Chen
authors: Lok-Ming
authors: LM
authors: Tang
authors: Chi-Jen
authors: CJ
authors: Chen
authors: Shih-Ming
authors: SM
authors: Jung
authors: Sien-Tsong
authors: ST
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae