Cerebral and cerebellar metastases

Case contributed by Gabriel Alonso Callupe Huamán
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Headache of several months duration, nausea and vomiting. Heavy smoker in her youth.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Female

CT brain

ct
This study is a stack
Axial
non-contrast
This study is a stack
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
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Info

Cystic/necrotic nodule in the right occipital lobe with irregular thin enhancing walls and central hypoattenuation (30 HU).

Left cerebellar cystic/necrotic mass with well-defined walls and enhancing nodular component.

Chest x-ray

x-ray
Posteroanterior
in bipedestation
Lateral
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Info

Right parahilar mass, with a "hidden hilum" sign.

MRI brain

mri
This study is a stack
Axial
T1
This study is a stack
Axial
T2
This study is a stack
Axial
T1 C+
This study is a stack
Axial FLAIR long
TR + FAT SAT
This study is a stack
Axial
VEN BOLD
This study is a stack
Axial
DWI
This study is a stack
Axial
ADC
This study is a stack
Axial
VVEN BOLD
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Info

The multilobulated cystic lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere shows high internal T2 signal that is partially suppressed on FLAIR and has thin nodular borders that enhance with contrast medium. On VEN BOLD sequence it shows peripheral areas with absent signal.

There is a small lesion with similar characteristics in the right occipital lobe. On DWI there is a small focus of diffusion restriction in the border of the posterior fossa lesion that enhances with contrast medium. The lesion is associated with surrounding vasogenic oedema and mass effect.

CT chest

ct
This study is a stack
Axial lung
window
This study is a stack
Axial
non-contrast
This study is a stack
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
Download
Info

Heterogeneous lobulated nodule at the level of the right hilum with heterogeneous contrast enhancement occluding a branch of the right upper lobe.

Right hilar lymphadenopathy.

Small thrombus in the SVC.

Left pulmonary embolus with distal infarction. 

Bilateral effusion with compressive atelectasis.

Case Discussion

The patient underwent craniotomy with removal of the left posterior fossa mass which was confirmed to be metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on histology. 

Multiple cystic/necrotic intracranial lesions with haemosiderin rim, proteinaceous content and enhancing solid components in an older adult are commonly due to metastatic disease; lung cancer is a common primary site.

Squamous cell cancer in the lung is often centrally located and necrotic. They commonly metastasise to brain.

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