Small cortical infarcts mimicking metastatic tumors

Small cortical enhancing lesions mimicking metastases were demonstrated on contrast imaging in three patients without specific neurologic deficits corresponding to the lesions. One patient had a long carcinoma. However, all had cardiac arrhythmias known as major sources of cerebral emboli. Two had early cerebral infarcts and ischemic heart diseases. The lesions disappeared spontaneously on follow-up studies. They were subsequently presumed to be small infarcts. Clinical information and follow-up examinations are important to differentiate these small cortical lesions from metastases.