[Multiple brain metastasis of bronchial atypical carcinoid: unusual MR imaging, case report]

We reported a case of a 76-year-old male who suffered from gait disturbance. His first MR image showed multiple masses in the cerebellum and cerebrum. After 50Gy of whole brain irradiation the masses downsized, but, after 8 months the patient was readmitted because of general convulsions. MRI on his second admission showed an enlargement of the multiple masses and reinforcement of the perifocal edema. One year after the onset, MRI revealed the unusual appearance of multiple obscure-marginated cystic masses, intratumoral hemorrhage, and intraventricular hemorrhage. Soon he died of complications from pneumonia. In the autopsy, a mass 4 x 5 cm in size was found in the right lung and multiple metastatic foci were found in the CNS, small intestine, and lymph nodes. The case was diagnosed as bronchial atypical carcinoid with multiple metastases.