C A S E O F T H E M O N T H
PARASAGITTAL MENINGIOMA
A 57-year-old lady presented with a 3-year history of on-and-off headaches and a 1-year history of gradual, progressive right-sided weakness. Her right leg was affected more than her right arm, and she needed assistance when walking. Initially she thought it was arthritis but eventually she went to see a doctor.
On examination, the patient was awake and alert. She limped when she walked and seemed to drag her right leg behind her. Her right arm was slightly weaker than her left.
MRI scan of the brain showed a large round tumor at the top of her head, beside an important blood vessel called the superior sagittal sinus. The tumor was located along the motor strip, the part of the brain that controls movement. This is the reason why the patient had weakness – the tumor was compressing the motor strip.
The patient underwent surgery for removal of the tumor. Histopathology results showed that the tumor was a meningioma, a benign tumor arising from the meninges, the covering of the brain.
The patient’s strength improved after the surgery, and she was discharged after a few days. After a few weeks, she could walk on her own without any assistance. She was advised to have regular follow-up visits to check her clinical status and to monitor for recurrence of the tumor, since meningiomas may regrow even after complete removal. |
