Headache in patients with chronic subdural hematoma: analysis in 1080 patients.

Headache is a major symptom in chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients. However, some CSDH patients do not complain headache although the hematoma is thick with definite midline shift. This clinical study was performed to identify the mechanism of headache in CSDH patients. We compiled clinical data of 1080 surgically treated CSDH patients (711 males and 369 females), and in 54 cases, the pressure of hematoma was measured during burr hole surgery using a glass-stick manometer. Headache was recognized in 22.6% of patients, while nausea or vomit suggesting increased intracranial pressure was detected in only 3.0%. Ophthalmological examination was performed in 238 patients, and papilledema was identified in only one patient (0.4%). The mean age of patients with headache (59.8 ± 16.9 years) was significantly younger than that of those without (75.7 ± 11.2 years) (P < 0.01). In 54 cases, the mean hematoma pressure was not significantly different between patients with (17.1 ± 6.2 mmH2O) and without (18.4 ± 7.2 mmH2O) headache (P > 0.10). Hematoma thickness was significantly greater in patients without headache (P < 0.01), but the ratio of midline shift to hematoma thickness was significantly greater in patients with headache (P < 0.01). In our results, the status of increased intracranial pressure was rare in CSDH patients, and high hematoma pressure was not a cause of headache. Midline shift was the most influenced factor for headache in our study, and based on the results, the authors consider that the potential cause of headache in CSDH might be stretching or twisting of the pain-sensitive meninges and meningeal arteries or veins.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured middle cerebral aneurysm in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that occur owing to the abnormalities in type 1 collagen, and is characterized by increased bone fragility and other extraskeletal manifestations. We report the case of a patient who was diagnosed with OI following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to a ruptured saccular intracranial aneurysm (IA). CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of sudden headache and vomiting. She was diagnosed with SAH (World Federation of Neurosurgical Society grade 2) owing to an aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery. She then underwent surgical clipping of the aneurysm successfully. She had blue sclerae, a history of several fractures of the extremities, and a family history of bone fragility and blue sclerae in her son. According to these findings, she was diagnosed with OI type 1. We performed genetic analysis for a single nucleotide G/C polymorphism (SNP) of exon 28 of the gene encoding for alpha-2 polypeptide of collagen 1, which is a potential risk factor for IA. However, this SNP was not detected in this patient or in five normal control subjects. Other genetic analyses did not reveal any mutations of the COL1A1 or COL1A2 gene. The cerebrovascular system is less frequently involved in OI. OI is associated with increased vascular weakness owing to collagen deficiency in and around the blood vessels. SAH secondary to a ruptured IA with OI has been reported in only six cases. CONCLUSION: The patient followed a good clinical course after surgery. It remains controversial whether IAs are caused by OI or IAs are coincidentally complicated with OI.

Radiation-induced meningiomas in multiple regions, showing rapid recurrence and a high MIB 1 labeling index: a case report and review of the literature.

Combined chemotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation has improved the prognosis of children with acute leukemia. However cranial irradiation carries a latent risk of the induction of secondary intracranial tumors. We encountered a patient who developed multiple intracranial radiation-induced meningiomas (RIMs) 25 years after prophylactic cranial irradiation for the treatment of acute leukemia in childhood. The patient had 3 intracranial lesions, 1 of which showed rapid growth within 6 months; another of the tumors also enlarged within a short period. All of the tumors were surgically treated, and immunohistochemistry indicated a high MIB-1 labeling index in each of the multiple lesions. In the literature, the MIB-1 labeling indices of 27 tumors from 21 patients were examined. Among them, 12 recurrent tumors showed higher MIB-1 labeling indices compared to the MIB-1 labeling indices of the non-recurrent tumors. Overall, 11 of the patients with RIM had multiple lesions and 8 cases developed recurrence (72.7%). RIM cases with multiple lesions had higher MIB-1 labeling indices compared to the MIB-1 labeling indices of cases with single lesions. Collectively, these data showed that the MIB-1 labeling index is as important for predicting RIM recurrences, as it is for predicting sporadic meningioma (SM) recurrences. RIMs should be treated more aggressively than SMs because of their greater malignant potential.

Vertebral artery dissection caused by swinging a golf club: case report and literature review.

Vertebral artery (VA) dissection caused by swinging a golf club is extremely rare, and the mechanism of the dissection has not been elucidated. A 39-year-old man suddenly felt sharp neck pain and dizziness when he swung a driver while playing golf and visited our clinic. Imaging studies showed acute right cerebellar infarction and complete occlusion of the right VA at the C2 (axis) level. After 1 month of 100 mg aspirin treatment, the occluded right VA was completely recanalized and the patient became totally asymptomatic. Professional golfers look at the position of the ball on the ground or tee until completion of their follow-through. However, some amateur golfers look in the direction that the ball travels at the beginning of their follow-through. It is hypothesized that this rapid disproportionate head rotation produces VA elongation and distortion, mainly at the C2 level, causing stenosis or occlusion of the artery.

Molecular status of pituitary carcinoma and atypical adenoma that contributes the effectiveness of temozolomide.

There have been several reports of temozolomide (TMZ) treatment of pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. O(6)-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase is not the sole molecule determining the sensitivity to TMZ in pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. The Japan Society of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Tumors study suggests that MSH6, one of mismatch repair pathway enzyme, fulfills a contributory role to the efficacy of TMZ treatment for pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas. The preserved MSH6 function might be essential for the responsiveness to TMZ treatment in pituitary carcinomas and atypical adenomas.

Modified S/MAR episomal vectors for stably expressing fluorescent protein-tagged transgenes with small cell-to-cell fluctuations.

We modified and tested scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) episomal vectors. The new vectors would be useful in obtaining cells stably expressing fluorescent protein-tagged transgenes with small, mostly within 10-fold cell-to-cell fluctuations. In the vectors, the same transcript directs episomal replication and expression of transgene/antibiotic marker, and only antibiotic selection without any other extra steps was sufficient to obtain desired stable cells, including those expressing two different proteins simultaneously. Furthermore, the two test cases (expression of human growth hormone in AtT20 and four protein kinase C isoforms in HEK293) would prove to be useful in visualizing and analyzing regulatory processes involving these proteins.

Urinary growth hormone level and insulin-like growth factor-1 standard deviation score (IGF-SDS) can discriminate adult patients with severe growth hormone deficiency.

Adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency (AGHD) in Japan is diagnosed based on peak GH concentrations during GH provocative tests such as GHRP-2 stimulation test. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (sIGF-1) and urinary GH (uGH) at the time of awakening to diagnose AGHD. Fifty-nine patients with pituitary disease (32 men and 27 women; age 20-85 y (57.5 ± 15.5, mean ± SD) underwent GHRP-2 stimulation and sIGF-1 testing. Thirty-six and 23 patients were diagnosed with and without severe AGHD, respectively based on a peak GH response of <9 ng/mL to GHRP-2 stimulation. Serum IGF-1 was evaluated as a standard deviation score (IGF-1 SDS) based on age and sex. We determined whether uGH levels in urine samples from 42 of the 59 patients at awakening were above or below the sensitivity limit. We evaluated IGF-1 SDS and uGH levels in a control group of 15 healthy volunteers. Values for IGF-1 SDS were significantly lower in patients with, than without (-2.07 ± 1.77 vs.-0.03 ± 0.92, mean ± SD; p < 0.001) AGHD whereas the range of IGF-1 SDS substantially overlapped at > -1.4. IGF-1 SDS discriminated AGHD more effectively in patients aged ≤60 years. The χ2 test revealed a statistical relationship between uGH and AGHD (test statistic: 7.0104 ≥ χ2 (1; 0.01) = 6.6349). When IGF-1 SDS is < -1.4 or uGH is below the sensitivity limit, AGHD can be detected with high sensitivity.

Molecular morphology of pituitary cells, from conventional immunohistochemistry to fluorescein imaging.

In situ hybridization (ISH) at the electron microscopic (EM) level is essential for elucidating the intracellular distribution and role of mRNA in protein synthesis. EM-ISH is considered to be an important tool for clarifying the intracellular localization of mRNA and the exact site of pituitary hormone synthesis on the rough endoplasmic reticulum. A combined ISH and immunohistochemistry (IHC) under EM (EM-ISH&IHC) approach has sufficient ultrastructural resolution, and provides two-dimensional images of the subcellular localization of pituitary hormone and its mRNA in a pituitary cell. The advantages of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, Qdots) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) enable us to obtain three-dimensional images of the subcellular localization of pituitary hormone and its mRNA. Both EM-ISH&IHC and ISH & IHC using Qdots and CLSM are useful for understanding the relationships between protein and mRNA simultaneously in two or three dimensions. CLSM observation of rab3B and SNARE proteins such as SNAP-25 and syntaxin has revealed that both rab3B and SNARE system proteins play important roles and work together as the exocytotic machinery in anterior pituitary cells. Another important issue is the intracellular transport and secretion of pituitary hormone. We have developed an experimental pituitary cell line, GH3 cell, which has growth hormone (GH) linked to enhanced yellow fluorescein protein (EYFP). This stable GH3 cell secretes GH linked to EYFP upon stimulation by Ca²+ influx or Ca²+ release from storage. This GH3 cell line is useful for the real-time visualization of the intracellular transport and secretion of GH. These three methods from conventional immunohistochemistry and fluorescein imaging allow us to consecutively visualize the process of transcription, translation, transport and secretion of anterior pituitary hormone.

Functional molecular morphology of anterior pituitary cells, from hormone production to intracellular transport and secretion.

Combined in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) under electron microscopy (EM-ISH & IHC) has sufficient ultrastructural resolution to provide two-dimensional images of subcellular localization of pituitary hormone and its mRNA in a pituitary cell. The advantages of semiconductor nanocrystals (Quantum dots; Qdots) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) enable us to obtain three-dimensional images of the subcellular localization of pituitary hormone and its mRNA. Both EM-ISH & IHC and ISH & IHC using Qdots and CLSM are useful for understanding the relationship between protein and mRNA simultaneously in two or three dimensions. CLSM observation of rab3B and SNARE proteins such as SNAP-25 and syntaxin revealed that both rab3B and SNARE system proteins play an important role and work together as the exocytotic machinery in anterior pituitary cells. Another important issue is the intracellular transport and secretion of pituitary hormone. An experimental pituitary cell line, the GH3 cell, in which growth hormone (GH) is linked to enhanced yellow fluorescein protein (EYFP), has been developed. This stable GH3 cell secretes GH linked to EYFP upon being stimulated by Ca(2+) influx or Ca(2+) release from storage. This GH3 cell is useful for real-time visualization of the intracellular transport and secretion of GH. These three methods enable us to visualize consecutively the processes of transcription, translation, transport, and secretion of pituitary hormone.

Small cell carcinoma originating from the cavernous sinus.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of small cell carcinoma originating from the right cavernous sinus in a 55-year-old male. The patient had sudden onset of right abducens palsy following right oculomotor palsy. METHODS: Post-contrast T1-weighted MRI revealed a mass lesion of 3-cm maximum size occupying the right cavernous sinus and extending to the right middle cranial fossa. After biopsy via the frontozygomatic approach, one radiosurgery treatment was followed by four cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin together with VP-16 therapy), after which the lesion diminished dramatically in size. RESULTS: Complete remission has currently been achieved. The patient recovered from the extraocular muscle paresis and returned to his previous work. Although it is considered possible that small cell carcinoma can occur wherever neuroendocrine cells exist, a lesion originating in the cranium is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of small cell carcinoma of intracranial origin.

Disappearance of gadolinium enhancement in a chemoresistant astrocytoma of the tectum after high-dose interferon beta.

Interferon beta 6 million units per week was administered to a patient with an aggressive astrocytoma in the tectum that was resistant to cisplatin, etoposide, vinblastine, and the oral alkylating agent temozolomide. The tumor was immunopositive for O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Interferon beta caused the disappearance of the gadolinium-enhanced lesion in the tectum. Interferons have apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects on tumor cells, and the lesion's disappearance may have been induced by complexes of these effects. Administration of interferon beta might have a favorable effect on tectal gliomas that are immunopositive for MGMT and resistant to chemoradiotherapy including temozolomide.

Lemierre Syndrome Associated with Ipsilateral Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy: A Case Report and Review.

Lemierre syndrome (LS) is a rare life-threatening disease that is often caused by an acute oropharyngeal infection with a secondary thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. LS rarely manifests as cranial nerve palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case report of LS associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. A 66-year-old female presented to a dental clinic with gingivitis and sore throat. Due to moderate periodontitis, her left first upper molar was extracted. A few days later, she subsequently developed a coarse voice and occipital headaches, and was referred to an otolaryngologist. She was diagnosed with left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and subsequent left-sided otitis media, and was referred to us for persistent headaches. She intermittently presented with high-grade fever and complained of salty taste disturbance. Her head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left mastoiditis, thrombosis in the left transverse and sigmoid sinus, and left internal jugular vein. Her laboratory tests revealed an elevated white blood cell count, levels of C-reactive protein, and D-dimer. No endogenous coagulopathy was confirmed. Although, blood and cerebrospinal fluid culture grew no microorganisms, respectively, the empirically determined antibiotic therapy was initiated. In a week, the patient defervesced and had no headaches despite persistent thrombosis. Early diagnosis and an immediate antibiotic treatment are crucial for LS patients. Anticoagulation therapy was not needed for our patient and is still controversial for LS.

Ischemic symptoms induced by occlusion of the unilateral vertebral artery with head rotation together with contralateral vertebral artery dissection--case report.

We report a 45-year-old woman whose unilateral vertebral artery (VA) was potentially occluded with head rotation at the C1-C2 level and her ischemic symptoms suddenly appeared because of contralateral VA dissection. She noticed first pain around the posterior part of her neck on the right side, and then dizziness when turning the head to the right side. The dizziness disappeared immediately after her head returned to the natural position. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed a string sign of the right VA. DSA and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed high grade extrinsic compression of the left VA at the C1-C2 level with head rotation more than 90 degrees to the right. Three-dimensional (3D) CTA also showed clearly kinking of the left VA at the C2 neuroforamina. Her symptoms disappeared completely with conservative therapy, and recanalization of the right VA was also confirmed by 3D-CTA. 3D-CTA was thought to be valuable to diagnose and manage the rotational compression of the artery. VA dissection must be remembered to differentially diagnose the etiology of transient attacks of posterior circulation ischemia due to rotational contralateral VA occlusion.

Microsurgical excision of a retro-odontoid disc hernia via a far-lateral approach: successful treatment of a rare cause of myelopathy: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Among mass lesions causing myelopathy at the craniovertebral junction, retro-odontoid intervertebral disc hernias are very rare, with only four such cases reported in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman with this rare condition complained of motor and sensory disturbances in her extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated an extradural mass lesion at the craniovertebral junction, compressing the lower medulla oblongata and the upper cervical cord posteriorly. INTERVENTION: The lesion, which was partly mucinous cartilaginous and partly fatty and fibrous, was meticulously removed via a left far-lateral approach. The lesion was not neoplastic but was determined to be composed of fibrocartilaginous tissue, consistent with disc material. Postoperatively, the patient's sensory disturbances and motor weakness improved, and magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated marked shrinkage of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Sagittal, T1-weighted, magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated a low-intensity band between the odontoid process and the body of the axis, which suggested a persistent cartilaginous band. Although upward migration of a herniated disc from the lower cervical spine and degeneration of retro-odontoid ligaments might be possible causes, a persistent cartilaginous band extending between the odontoid process and the body of the axis was considered to be the more likely origin of the retro-odontoid intervertebral disc hernia. Because the far-lateral surgical approach does not require retraction of the cervical cord and provides safe access to the lesion at the craniovertebral junction, it is a suitable surgical method for this condition.

Significance of consecutive bilateral surgeries for patients with acute subdural hematoma who develop contralateral acute epi- or subdural hematoma.

BACKGROUND: Although rare, patients with acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) because of severe head injury can develop contralateral acute epi- or subdural hematoma, requiring consecutive surgical procedures. The choice of treatment strategies for such patients is clinically important. METHODS: Among 88 patients with ASDH who were surgically treated over 13 years, we encountered and studied 5 patients who developed contralateral acute epi- or subdural hematoma (5.7%). RESULTS: All 5 patients were male, ranging in age from 17 to 40. According to the Glasgow Coma Scale on admission, 1 patient was rated 3, 1 was 4, 1 was 5, and 2 were 6. All patients underwent consecutive surgical procedures for ASDH and contralateral ASDH and/or acute epidural hematoma, and were given postoperative supportive therapy with barbiturates and mild hypothermia. Patients' outcomes according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale were as follows: 1 patient, good recovery (20.0%); 1, mild disability (20.0%); 2, severe disability (40.0%), and 1, persistent vegetative state (20.0%). No patients died. Although decompressive craniectomy and evacuation of hematoma may lead to contralateral acute epi- or subdural hematoma in patients with ASDH, this therapy is justified because hematoma irrigation with trephination therapy has a poor outcome for comatose patients. CONCLUSION: Awareness of intraoperative brain swelling is important, as it suggests the development of contralateral hematoma. Immediate computed tomography and a rapid return to the operating room are therefore critical.

Skull base osteosarcoma presenting with cerebrospinal fluid leakage after CyberKnife® treatment: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: CyberKnife® radiation is an effective treatment for unresectable skull base tumors because it can deliver a highly conformational dose distribution to the complex shapes of tumor extensions. There have been few reports of severe complications with this treatment. This is the first published case report to our knowledge of cerebrospinal fluid leakage induced by CyberKnife® radiotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A skull base tumor was identified on magnetic resonance imaging in a 78-year-old Asian woman with a headache in her forehead. An endoscopic transnasal tumor resection was performed; however, the tumor, invading into the cavernous sinuses and optic canal, was not completely removed. During the subtotal resection of the tumor, no cerebrospinal fluid leakage was observed. Osteosarcoma was histologically diagnosed, and CyberKnife® radiation was performed to the residual tumor considering the aggressive feature of the tumor with a molecular immunology Borstel-1 index of 15%. Five months after the treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed definite tumor shrinkage, and the patient had been living her daily life without any troubles. After another month, the patient was transferred to our clinic because of coma with high fever, and computed tomography demonstrated severe pneumocephalus. Rhinorrhea was definitely identified on admission; therefore, emergency repair of the cerebrospinal fluid leakage was performed using an endoscope. Dural defects at the bottom of the sella turcica were identified under careful endoscopic observation and fat tissue was patched to the dural defects. Follow-up computed tomography proved complete disappearance of air from the cisterns 2 weeks after the surgery, and the patient was discharged from our hospital without any neurological deficits. CONCLUSION: CyberKnife® radiation is one of the effective treatments for skull base tumors; however, the risk of cerebrospinal fluid leakage should be considered when tumor invasion to the dura mater is suspected. Emergency surgical treatment is required when cerebrospinal fluid leakage is induced by the radiotherapy because the leakage is not expected to be healed by palliative treatments.

Clinicopathological and molecular histochemical review of skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma including follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a rare clinical entity. Eighteen FTC cases and 10 PTC cases showing skull base metastasis have been reported. The most common symptom of skull base metastasis from FTC and PTC is cranial nerve dysfunction. Bone destruction and local invasion to the surrounding soft tissues are common on radiological imaging. Skull base metastases can be the initial clinical presentation of FTC and PTC in the presence of silent primary sites. The possibility of skull base metastasis from FTC and PTC should be considered in patients with the clinical symptoms of cranial nerve dysfunction and radiological findings of bone destruction. A variety of genetic alterations in thyroid tumors have been identified to have a fundamental role in their tumorigenesis. Molecular histochemical studies are useful for elucidating the histopathological features of thyroid carcinoma. Recent molecular findings may provide novel molecular-based treatment strategies for thyroid carcinoma.

Ganglioneuroma originating from the trigeminal nerve in the middle cranial fossa. Case report.

A 55-year-old man present with a case of ganglioneuroma manifesting as sudden onset of severe headache. T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a heterogeneously enhanced mass (3 × 3 × 2.5 cm) in the left middle cranial fossa compressing the left cavernous sinus. The tumor was totally removed through a frontozygomatic approach. The histological diagnosis was ganglioneuroma originating from the second division of the trigeminal nerve in the middle cranial fossa. Ganglioneuroma can occur wherever ganglion cells exist, but ganglioneuroma originating from the trigeminal nerve is rare, with only two cases reported.

Endoscopic extracapsular removal of pituitary adenoma: the importance of pretreatment of an adjacent unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysm.

The presence of an intracranial aneurysm together with a pituitary adenoma presents tremendous risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, during transsphenoidal surgery, particularly when the aneurysm lies near the operative field. A left supraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysm and a clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma coexisted in a 57-year-old woman. Initially, the aneurysm was treated by endovascular coil placement, and then the patient underwent pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection of the pituitary tumor via a transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic approach. Pseudocapsule-based extracapsular total resection was safely performed, because of the extirpated risk of rupture of the coil-treated aneurysm. Recently, transsphenoidal pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection approach for pituitary adenomas provides a more effective and safe alternative compared to the traditional intracapsular one because of its higher tumor removal and remission rates and lower recurrence rate. Compared with conventional subcapsular removal, pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection has more risks of aneurysmal rupture that is located adjacent to pituitary adenoma. Thus, in a patient having a cerebral aneurysm with the proximity to the operative field, the cerebral aneurysm should be first treated with endovascular coil placement or direct surgical procedure; subsequently, pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection of the pituitary tumor via a transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic approach should be performed.

Tumefactive multiple sclerosis requiring emergent biopsy and histological investigation to confirm the diagnosis: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Tumefactive multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease that demonstrates tumor-like features on magnetic resonance imaging. Although diagnostic challenges without biopsy have been tried by employing radiological studies and cerebrospinal fluid examinations, histological investigation is still necessary for certain diagnosis in some complicated cases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old Asian man complaining of mild left leg motor weakness visited our clinic. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high-signal lesions in bilateral occipital forceps majors, the left caudate head, and the left semicentral ovale on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T2-weighted imaging, and these lesions were enhanced by gadolinium-dimeglumin. Tumefactive multiple sclerosis was suspected because the enhancement indistinctly extended along the corpus callosum on magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy showed a low malignancy of the lesions. But oligoclonal bands were not detected in cerebrospinal fluid. In a few days, his symptoms fulminantly deteriorated with mental confusion and left hemiparesis, and steroid pulse therapy was performed. In spite of the treatment, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed enlargement of the lesions. Therefore, emergent biopsy was performed and finally led to the diagnosis of demyelinating disease. The enhanced lesion on magnetic resonance imaging disappeared after one month of prednisolone treatment, but mild disorientation and left hemiparesis remained as sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Fulminant aggravation of the disease can cause irreversible neurological deficits. Thus, an early decision to perform a biopsy is necessary for exact diagnosis and appropriate treatment if radiological studies and cerebrospinal fluid examinations cannot rule out the possibility of brain tumors.