BETTE K. KLEINSCHMIDT-DeMASTERS
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Denver, CO
The patient is a 23-year-old right handed female who first experienced difficulties in 05/2001 when
she stopped taking her birth control pills and noted the onset of headaches. Over the next several
months the headaches became progressively worse and were particularly painful around the time of her
menstrual periods. She subsequently was started back on her birth control pills in 11/2002 and her
headache improved, but because she wanted to try to become pregnant she once again ceased taking her
birth control pills in 05/2002. Her headaches returned. After she stopped taking her birth control
pills in 05/2002 she developed amenorrhea, but no galactorrhea. Her gynecologist saw her in 02/2003
and a prolactin level was found to be moderately elevated at 103 ng/ml. MRI scan demonstrated a 1.9 X
2.3 X 1.5 cm. sellar and suprasellar mass abutting the optic chiasm, with displacement of the normal
gland superiorly and to the right. The patient was referred to an endocrinologist. More extensive
workup verified the elevated prolactin level but showed normal levels of TSH, free T4, LH, and FSH.
IGF-1 level was 426 (normal 182-780) and beta HCG was not detectible. The clinical impression was
that the tumor was unlikely to be a prolactin-secreting adenoma due to its size and only modest
elevation in prolactin; stalk effect was suspected.
On 05/19/2003, she underwent transsphenoidal
resection of her pituitary adenoma without complications. Postoperatively she did well except for
persistent left-sided headaches that she described as sharp and virtually daily in occurrence, albeit
of less severity than those she experienced preoperatively. Menstruation returned but again the
headaches were worse during this time period.
Postoperative neuroimaging revealed good reduction
in overall tumor mass, but persistent residual enhancing tissue in the left cavernous sinus. This was
not felt to be resectable and was thought to be the likely source of the patient's continuing
headaches.
On follow up examination in 09/2003 she complained of a low energy level, with
persistent fatigue. One observer thought there was "a vague suggestion of acromegaly" due to her
somewhat coarse facial features. Repeat laboratory studies showed normal FSH, LH, IGF-1, T-4, TSH,
cortisol, and prolactin. On 10/16/2003, the patient was treated with stereotactic radiosurgery, with
15 gray delivered to the left cavernous sinus lesion; she tolerated the procedure well.
RICHARD A. PRAYSON
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Cleveland, OH
A 45-year-old woman presented with a 6 day history of ascending sensory loss and weakness of the left
leg progressing to complete sensory loss, dense paraparesis of both legs and bladder/bowel
incontinence. Other than Graves' disease, which was recently treated with iodine131 followed by
thyroxine replacement, the patient's medical history was unremarkable. T2-weighted magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) showed a non-enhancing fusiform area of increased signal at at the thoracic (T2-3) level
of the spinal cord and a single area of increased signal in the deep cerebral white matter. The
patient was treated with an 8 day course of i.v. ACTH followed by a tapering oral prednisone regimen.
One month later the patient presented with no significant improvement in symptoms. Neurological
examination at this time found minimal hip flexor anti-gravity strength and no ankle dorsi-flexor
anti-gravity strength of the lower extremities bilaterally with grade 1 spasticity. Vibration and
joint position sense were absent to the level of the knee and hip joint, respectively. Reflexes in
the lower extremities were pathologically brisk with positive Babinski's signs. Examination of the
cranial nerves and upper extremities revealed no deficit. Relevant laboratory tests included the
following (normal range in paretheses): hemoglobin, 159 g/l (120-160); leukocyte count, 5.24x109/1
(4.0-11.0) with neutrophils 82.6%, lymphocytes 11.1%; platelets, 145 K/ul (150-400); erythrocyte
sedimentation rare, 1.0 mm/h (0.0-20.0); serum albumin, 3140 mg/dl (3276-4819); serum IgG, 582 mg/dl
(747-1470); CSF protein, 45 mG/dl (15-45); CSF red cell count, 1 (0-1/ul); CSF white cell count, 1
(0-3/ul); CSF IgG, 4.0 mg/dl (0.6-4.4); CSF albumin 29.2 m/dl (9.3-31.3); CNS IgG synthesis, 1.6 mg/dl
(0.0-30.0); IgG/albumin ratio, 0.14 (0.06-0.17); IgG index, 0.50 (0.00-0.61); lactate dehydrogenase
(LDH), 1776 U/l (100-220): Oligoclonal bands, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor,
syphilis serology (RPR, HA-TP) and SF cultures for bacteria, herpes virus and fungi were negative.
Cytological examination of the CSF, bone marrow and peripheral blood did not demonstrate neoplastic
cells. A repeat MRI scan of the spinal cord and brain showed numerous hyperintense lesions in the
right periventricular white matter and thoracic spine (T2-3), interpreted as being consistent with
demyelinating disease. Steroid therapy was commenced.
Despite steroid therapy, the patient was
readmitted on several occasions for worsening paraplegia, sensory deficits, hearing loss and cognitive
impairment. Further MRI studies of the brain showed no new interval changes.
Ten months after
initial presentation, a sigmoid colostomy was performed for bowel atony and severe obstipation. Two
weeks later, the patient was admitted for recurrent seizures, multiple electrolyte abnormalities,
acute hepatic and renal failure and infected decubitus ulcers. Neurological examination demonstrated
a right facial paresis, dysarthria, no anti-gravity strength in the lower extremities and positive
Babinski's signs bilaterally. A sensory level at T8 was demonstrated and joint position/vibration was
absent in both lower extremities. The patient continued to decline with worsening renal function,
severe metabolic acidosis and multiple tonic/clonic seizures prior to death.
ROGER E. McLENDON
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC
The patient was a 3-year-old white male diagnosed with a posterior fossa brain tumor after presenting
with wide based gait, nausea, vomiting, headache and "the room being upside down." A head CT revealed
a 4 cm mass in the left lateral cerebellum displacing the 4th ventricle and both the 3rd and lateral
ventricles were enlarged. He underwent near total resection on 1/29/93 and pathology revealed the
present tumor without invasion of the brain stem.
He has subsequently been followed by his local
medical doctor.
DANIEL J. BRAT
Emory University Hospital
Atlanta, GA
A 32-year-old female developed headaches and blurred vision over the course of three months. Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large, contrast-enhancing suprasellar mass with multiple cystic
components. The tumor impinged on the optic chiasm superiorly and extended posteriorly and inferiorly
into the posterior fossa, where it compressed the right side of the pons. The neoplasm was surgically
resected. Follow-up MRI after 12 months showed no residual tumor.
Three years after the
operation, the patient developed progressively worsening back and leg pain, lower extremity weakness,
as well as bowel and bladder dysfunction. She required a wheelchair and could not walk without
assistance. MRI of the spinal cord showed a contrast-enhancing intradural mass that filled and
expanded the thecal sac, extending from the T12 to the S1 level. At surgery, the tumor was found to
entrap spinal cord and spinal roots. It also eroded through the dura in multiple locations. The
tumor was resected piece by piece from the surrounding normal structures. The specimen from the
spinal resection was sent for pathological examination.
GREGORY N. FULLER
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
A 49-year-old woman presented with a solitary, contrast-enhancing mass of the left frontal lobe
measuring approximately 3cm in greatest diameter as assessed by MR imaging. An open biopsy was
performed.
