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[Pontine stroke secondary to a foramen magnum meningioma]

M S Manzano-Palomo1, J A Egido

  • 1Unidad de Patología Cerebrovascular, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, E-28040 Madrid, Spain.

Revista De Neurologia
|June 11, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A rare case of foramen magnum meningioma mimicked a pontine stroke. This brain tumor caused vertebrobasilar vascular distortion, leading to stroke-like symptoms in a 75-year-old female patient.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Meningiomas are common central nervous system tumors, typically benign and slow-growing.
  • Their presentation as cerebral infarction is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

  • A 75-year-old female with hypertension presented with sudden dysarthria, left-sided weakness, left facial palsy, and right Horner syndrome.
  • Initial CT scan showed a lacunar infarct; however, MRI revealed a foramen magnum meningioma causing vertebrobasilar vascular distortion.

Findings:

  • The foramen magnum meningioma presented atypically with symptoms mimicking an acute pontine stroke.
  • Vascular compromise of the vertebrobasilar system was identified as the cause of the neurological deficits.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering meningioma in the differential diagnosis of stroke, especially in the posterior circulation.
  • Radiosurgery was an effective treatment for this rare presentation of meningioma.

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