Malignant carcinoid tumor metastatic to the dura mater simulating a meningioma

A 50-year-old man, transferred from another hospital, was admitted because of adult onset seizures. Nine months earlier, he had undergone an esophagogastrectomy; the lesion was confirmed to be a carcinoid tumor. Laboratory tests, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram were normal. A second liver and spleen scan was performed. A computed tomographic scan revealed a well-circumscribed homogeneous enhancement of a lesion in the left frontal superficial area. On the 10th day, the patient underwent a left frontal parietal craniotomy. Postoperatively, he manifested no residual neurological deficits and was discharged on the 6th postoperative day. A week later, he was readmitted for treatment of aphasia and right hemiparesis; he was treated and discharged. The patient survived 16 more months. The occurrence of central nervous system metastasis from carcinoid tumor is rare. This tumor resembled, in many respects, a parasagittal meningioma. Radiological findings on the computed tomographic scan were typical of these tumors. This patient was diagnosed as having metastatic disease just 9 months after the diagnosis of the primary tumor and 13 months from the onset of any symptoms. This is a short period of time compared with that reported in other cases.