Asymptomatic brain finding results on MRI in a patient with Crohn's disease: a case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gastroenterology
• Oncology

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic gastrointestinal conditions.
• Neurological involvement in IBD is uncommon and debated.
• Crohn's disease (CD) is a major form of IBD characterized by inflammation.

Observation:

• A 39-year-old male with a history of extensive perianal fistulas was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.
• The patient underwent a brain MRI as part of a research protocol.
• An intracranial meningioma, a benign primary brain tumor, was detected incidentally.

Findings:

• The patient presented with no neurological symptoms or electromyography abnormalities.
• The meningioma was discovered despite the absence of typical neurological indications.
• The temporal relationship between Crohn's disease diagnosis and tumor detection is noted.

Implications:

• This case raises questions about whether the meningioma is an incidental finding or a neurological manifestation of Crohn's disease.
• It underscores the importance of considering central nervous system disorders as potential extraintestinal manifestations of CD.
• The findings have implications for managing incidental findings in IBD patients and warrant further research into the CD-neurological disorder association.