Journal article
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy mimicking central nervous system metastases: a case report
Journal of Medical Case Reports, Vol.12(1), 133
05/14/2018
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-018-1655-6
PMCID: PMC5950108
PMID: 29754590
Abstract
Background:
This case describes an unusual presentation of an intracranial hemorrhage first thought to be metastatic disease on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The healthcare team completed an exhaustive search for a primary malignancy that was negative. Final diagnosis on brain biopsy showed intercranial hemorrhage secondary to cerebral amyloid angiopathy. With an increasing number of elderly patients and the rising cost of health care, this case can serve as a reminder to clinicians about their own responsibilities in limiting the cost of health care.
Case presentation:
This is a case report about a 72-year-old white woman with an intracranial hemorrhage secondary to cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The brain lesions on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging mimicked a metastatic process until a brain biopsy could give a definitive diagnosis that was completely unexpected. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a rare cause of intracerebral hemorrhage and this diagnosis is important to consider in older patients on anticoagulation.
Conclusions:
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a rare diagnosis but should be considered in elderly patients on anticoagulation presenting with imaging findings consistent with intracerebral hemorrhage. While metastatic disease is a more common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral amyloid angiopathy should remain in the differential diagnosis. This case report serves as a teaching point to clinicians in cases involving an older patient on anticoagulation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cerebral amyloid angiopathy mimicking central nervous system metastases: a case report
- Creators
- Christopher DeZorzi - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsRuth Fernandez-Ruiz - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsSarika Gupta - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsKatherine Harris - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Medical Case Reports, Vol.12(1), 133
- Publisher
- BMC
- DOI
- 10.1186/s13256-018-1655-6
- PMID
- 29754590
- PMCID
- PMC5950108
- ISSN
- 1752-1947
- eISSN
- 1752-1947
- Copyright
- © 2018, Springer Nature
- Grant note
- Funding: There is no source of funding in preparing this case report. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/14/2018
- Academic Unit
- Pathology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9983761197102771
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