Unrecognized intracerebral glass particle mimicking cavernoma: Case report


Inci S., Karakoc E., SAYGI S., Ozgen T.

Neurosurgery, cilt.58, sa.1, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 58 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2006
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1227/01.neu.0000192387.03428.e1
  • Dergi Adı: Neurosurgery
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Cavernoma, Epilepsy, Foreign body, Glass, Head trauma, Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: 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. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: 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. INTERVENTION: 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. CONCLUSION: 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. Copyright © Congress of Neurogical Surgeons.