Abstract
We report four cases of patients with clinically isolated apathy which was mistaken for depression even though they were suffering from voluminous brain tumors. These cases remind us that rigorous clinical analysis is essential: searching for signs of organic origin or psychiatric etiology is fundamental to avoid an incorrect diagnosis. In particular, these four patients displayed anosmia, an uncommon symptom for patients suffering from depression. In addition, brain imaging is important to correctly identify the most prudent medical and/or surgical management strategy. In this short discussion, we propose an algorithm for the clinical diagnosis of apathy.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Case Reports
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English Abstract
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / complications
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Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
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Adenocarcinoma / psychology
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Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
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Aged
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Cognition Disorders / etiology
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Decision Trees
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Depression / diagnosis*
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Diagnostic Errors*
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Diagnostic Imaging
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Epistaxis / etiology
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Ethmoid Sinus / pathology*
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Fatal Outcome
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Female
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Frontal Lobe / pathology*
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Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
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Humans
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Lethargy / diagnosis*
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Lethargy / etiology
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Male
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Meningeal Neoplasms / complications
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Meningeal Neoplasms / diagnosis*
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Meningeal Neoplasms / psychology
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Meningioma / complications
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Meningioma / diagnosis*
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Meningioma / psychology
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Middle Aged
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Olfaction Disorders / etiology*
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Olfaction Disorders / physiopathology
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Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / diagnosis*
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Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / pathology
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Supratentorial Neoplasms / complications
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Supratentorial Neoplasms / diagnosis*
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Supratentorial Neoplasms / psychology
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Supratentorial Neoplasms / secondary
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Tumor Burden
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Vision Disorders / etiology