A Woman in Her 40s With Headache and New-Onset Seizures

JAMA Neurol. 2017 Apr 1;74(4):476-480. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.2961.

Abstract

A woman in her 40s with a history of plasma cell leukemia presented with 1 month of intermittent headaches followed by a seizure. Results from laboratory studies were notable for a cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure of 28 mm H2O and 8 white blood cells, including 1 atypical plasma cell. Imaging studies revealed confluent bifrontal white matter fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities, as well as a contrast-enhancing sellar lesion. The patient underwent a stereotactic biopsy. The differential diagnosis, pathologic findings, and diagnosis are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Headache / diagnostic imaging
  • Headache / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Plasma Cell / complications*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Seizures / diagnostic imaging
  • Seizures / etiology*