Carcinomatous encephalitis as clinical presentation of occult lung adenocarcinoma: case report Encefalite carcinomatosa como apresentação inicial de adenocarcinoma de pulmão oculto: relato de caso

Carcinomatous encephalitis is a rare entity, originally described by Madow and Alpers in 1951, which is characterized by tumoral spreading perivascular, without mass effect. Clinical manifestations such as hemiparesis, seizures, ataxia, speech difficulties, cerebrospinal fluid findings as well as computed tomography are nonspecific. This leads the physician to pursue more frequent diseases that could explain those manifestations - toxic, metabolic, and/or infectious encephalopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium, the method of choice, presumes the diagnosis. Previous reports of this unusual form of metastatic disease have described patients with prior diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. We present the case of carcinomatous encephalitis in a 76-years-old woman as the primary manifestation of occult pulmonary adenocarcinoma with its clinical, imaging, and anatomopathological findings.<br>A "encefalite" carcinomatosa é entidade rara, descrita originalmente por Madow e Alpers em 1951 e caracterizada pela disseminação tumoral perivascular, sem causar efeito de massa. As manifestações clínicas como hemiparesia, convulsões, ataxia, alterações de fala, os achados do líquido cefalorraquidiano e da tomografia computadorizada de crânio são inespecíficos, o que faz buscar outras causas mais freqüentes que justifiquem o quadro -encefalopatia tóxica, metabólica e/ou infecciosa. A ressonância magnética com gadolínio é o exame de eleição, frente à suspeita clínica. Todos os casos de "encefalite" carcinomatosa foram relatados em pacientes com diagnóstico prévio de adenocarcinoma de pulmão. Nesse sentido. Apresentamos caso de encefalite carcinomatosa, em mulher de 76 anos como manifestação primária de adenocarcinoma de pulmão oculto, com seus aspectos clínicos, de imagem e anatomopatológicos

Miliary brain metastasis presenting with calcification in a patient with lung cancer: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Miliary brain metastasis is an extremely rare form of brain metastasis which can present with atypical imaging findings. We report the case of a patient with miliary brain metastasis of lung cancer showing calcification in metastatic lesions.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 68-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Brain computed tomography revealed multiple small calcified lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. Mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (exon 21, L858R) in lung cancer cells was detected, and treatment with gefitinib was initiated. A partial response was observed; however, the patient was readmitted to our hospital because of regrowth of the primary lesion and complaints of nausea, headache, and difficulty walking. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed scattered tiny nodules enhanced by gadolinium. A diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis was made on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid cytology. The patient’s general status worsened, and she died 356 days after the day of first medical examination. Upon autopsy, the brain was found to be edematous and swollen. Lung carcinoma cells were diffusely disseminated on the meningeal surface. Metastatic foci of small nodular form, accompanied by calcifications, were also found in the brain parenchyma. We diagnosed miliary metastasis of lung carcinoma.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the third report of calcified miliary brain metastasis confirmed by autopsy. We describe calcified lesions that increased in size during the clinical course of nine months. Brain computed tomography findings that reveal multiple small calcified lesions in patients with malignancy should raise suspicion of miliary brain metastasis.</p