Medulloblastoma mimicking Lhermitte-Duclos disease on MRI and CT

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2009 Jul;111(6):536-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2009.01.008. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Abstract

Background: Although previous reports purport that the unique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) obviates the need for biopsy, medulloblastoma can have an indistinguishable imaging appearance.

Case description: We present a patient who suffered from a medulloblastoma that demonstrated no enhancement and had imaging characteristics that were indistinguishable from LDD. This atypical imaging appearance, which could potentially be confused with LDD, may lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment in the absence of tissue sampling.

Conclusion: In those patients where imaging is highly suggestive of LDD but lack other manifestations of Cowden syndrome, biopsy is required and advanced imaging with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) should be strongly considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain / surgery
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Ganglioneuroma / diagnostic imaging
  • Ganglioneuroma / pathology*
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / diagnostic imaging
  • Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Infratentorial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Medulloblastoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology*
  • Medulloblastoma / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome