Hemorrhagic onset of hemangioblastoma located in the dorsal medulla oblongata presenting with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy and neurogenic pulmonary edema: a case report

Case Rep Neurol. 2014 Mar 19;6(1):68-73. doi: 10.1159/000361041. eCollection 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Here, we present a case of dorsal medulla oblongata hemangioblastoma with fourth ventricular hemorrhage. A 23-year-old female developed sudden consciousness disturbance, and CT revealed hemorrhage in all cerebral ventricles and a hyperdense mass in the cisterna magna. Although the reddish tumor located in the dorsal medulla oblongata was successfully removed, she suffered from severe tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) and neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) because of baroreflex failure and damage to the solitary tract nuclei. After intensive care for 12 weeks following surgery, she was discharged without any neurological or radiological deficits. Pathogenesis of TTC/NPE is discussed in this paper.

Keywords: Baroreflex failure; Hemangioblastoma; Medulla oblongata; Neurogenic pulmonary edema; Solitary tract nucleus; Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports