Spontaneous regression of a primary cerebral tumor following vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm--case report

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2004 Apr;44(4):187-90. doi: 10.2176/nmc.44.187.

Abstract

A 40-year-old man demonstrated spontaneous regression of a malignant glioma following vasospasm caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. The patient had been treated under a diagnosis of malignant glioma for 5 years. He presented with a ruptured aneurysm manifesting as subarachnoid hemorrhage. Single photon emission computed tomography with N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed severe flow reduction due to vasospasm in the bilateral temporoparietal cortical regions, including the tumor. MR imaging performed 5 months later showed marked tumor regression. The present case suggests that treatment targeting angiogenesis of malignant gliomas may be effective as a part of multimodality treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / complications*
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Glioma / diagnosis
  • Glioma / etiology*
  • Glioma / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / complications*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial / complications*