Diagnostic Dilemma

Brain tumour


Author:
Question
An eight and half years old girl presented with occipital headache and projectile vomiting since 2 months, imbalance of body since 2 months and inability to close right eye with deviation of face to left side since 15 days and slurring of speech since 1 week. Vomiting would relieve the headache. The child is not able to walk now due to unsteadiness. There are no convulsions, altered sensorium, sensory, bladder or bowel complaints. There is no otorrhoea or contact with Tuberculosis. On examination, she had staccato and slurred speech, right lateral rectus palsy, lower motor right facial nerve palsy, hypotonia and brisk reflexes with bilateral extensor planters. She had cerebellar sings in form of broad based gait, positive Rhomberg’s sign, past pointing and dysdiadokinesis. There were no meningeal signs. Other systemic examination was normal.

What is the diagnosis?
Expert Opinion :
This child has raised intracranial tension (vomiting and headache with right lateral rectus palsy), cerebellar signs and lower motor neuron facial palsy (suggestive of lesion in the brain stem – pons). Also presence of brisk reflexes and extensor planters suggest invovlement of the pyramidal tracts which is most likely due to hydrocephalus. The symptoms have been going on for 2 months suggestive of a slow growing lesion such as space occupying lesion. Thus one may consider tumors such as pontine glioma, ependymoma and medulloblastoma. Pontine gliomas usually lead to double vision, weakness, unsteady gait, difficulty in swallowing, dysarthria along with the above symptoms. Medulloblastoma lead to raised ICT due to hydrocephalus, headache and cerebellar symptoms. Ependymoma presents with vomiting, headache, cerebellar signs and diminished social interaction. Thus in this child most likely diagnosis is medulloblastoma with hydrocephalus. MRI confirmed the diagnosis of medulloblastoma with hydrocephalus.
Answer Discussion :
J
Juan De
bubble
Brain tumour
13 Days ago
U
Ulrike Salzer Muhar
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Cerebellar tumor ( e.g. medulloblastoma)
13 Days ago

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