Cerebral intraventricular lipoma and sudden death

Area of Science:

• Neuropathology
• Neuroimaging
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Lipomas are benign tumors composed of adipose tissue.
• Intracranial lipomas are rare, with most occurring in the midline structures.
• Lipomas within the cerebral ventricles are exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

• A case report details a lipoma located in the left lateral cerebral ventricle.
• The lesion was discovered incidentally during a postmortem examination of a 73-year-old male.
• The patient experienced sudden death attributed to acute hydrocephalus.

Findings:

• The cerebral ventricular lipoma was identified as the probable cause of obstructive hydrocephalus.
• This finding highlights an infrequent cause of acute hydrocephalus.
• The tumor's location within the ventricle likely impeded cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering rare intracranial lesions in the differential diagnosis of hydrocephalus.
• Understanding the potential complications of intraventricular lipomas is crucial for neurosurgeons and neuropathologists.
• Further research into the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of intraventricular lipomas may improve diagnostic accuracy.