Glioblastoma presenting as spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage: Case report and review of the literature

Danica M Joseph; Anthea H O'Neill; Ronil V Chandra; Leon T Lai

doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2016.12.046

Glioblastoma presenting as spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage: Case report and review of the literature

J Clin Neurosci. 2017 Jun:40:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2016.12.046. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Authors

Danica M Joseph¹, Anthea H O'Neill², Ronil V Chandra³, Leon T Lai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia; Monash Neurovascular Institute, P.O. Box 191, Kew East, Melbourne, Victoria 3102, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Neurointerventional Service, Monash Imaging, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia; Monash Neurovascular Institute, P.O. Box 191, Kew East, Melbourne, Victoria 3102, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia; Monash Neurovascular Institute, P.O. Box 191, Kew East, Melbourne, Victoria 3102, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 28215428
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2016.12.046

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GB) classically presents with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and gradual progressive neurological deficits. An acute presentation, with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and rapid clinical deterioration, occurs infrequently. Contemporary imaging modalities do not reliably reflect underlying mass lesions in parenchymal brain haemorrhage at first presentation. We report a delayed diagnosis of GB in a 21-year-old patient presenting with spontaneous ICH and a negative initial neurovascular workup. A comprehensive literature review was performed to investigate the incidence of malignant aetiology for spontaneous ICH in young adults, and to underscore the importance of early utilisation of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in such cases.

Keywords: Glioblastoma; Intracerebral haemorrhage; Magnetic resonance imaging; Young adult.

Publication types

Case Reports
Review

MeSH terms

Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Diagnosis, Differential
Glioblastoma / diagnosis
Glioblastoma / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Intracranial Hemorrhages / diagnosis
Intracranial Hemorrhages / diagnostic imaging*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Young Adult