Unrecognized intracerebral glass particle mimicking cavernoma: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Although the presence of a foreign body in the cranium after a head injury is a well-known entity, cases of retained intracranial foreign bodies causing a delayed onset of neurological symptoms are rare. To our knowledge, an unrecognized intracerebral glass particle mimicking a cavernoma has not been previously reported in the literature.


METHODS
We report a unique case regarding an intracranial foreign body. A 39-year-old patient presented with new-onset epilepsy. The patient had no history of trauma. According to the magnetic resonance imaging findings and the patient's clinical course, the responsible lesion was considered to be a temporal cavernoma.


METHODS
During the operation, surprisingly, a glass particle was found within the temporal lobe. The glass had penetrated the cranium during a minor head injury and had remained undetected for 33 years. The patient was seizure-free without medication during 3 years of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracranial small foreign bodies can be difficult to diagnose, especially in patients with no history or a vague history of head trauma. Patients with long-standing retained foreign bodies may remain clinically well until complications arise. Intracranial foreign bodies may mimic other pathologies clinically and radiologically.
Inci
Servet
S
Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. servet@maicity.com
Karakoc
Ebru
E
Saygi
Serap
S
Ozgen
Tuncalp
T
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005898:Glass; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction; D013702:Temporal Lobe; D013997:Time Factors