Frontiers in Neurology (Jul 2021)

Progressive Tumefactive Demyelination as the Only Result of Extensive Diagnostic Work-Up: A Case Report

  • Pavel Štourač,
  • Pavel Štourač,
  • Jan Kolčava,
  • Jan Kolčava,
  • Miloš Keřkovský,
  • Miloš Keřkovský,
  • Tereza Kopřivová,
  • Tereza Kopřivová,
  • Leoš Křen,
  • Leoš Křen,
  • Josef Bednařík,
  • Josef Bednařík

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.701663
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Tumefactive demyelinating lesions belong to the rare variants of multiple sclerosis, posing a diagnostic challenge since it is difficult to distinguish them from a neoplasm or other brain lesions and they require a careful differential diagnosis. This contribution presents the case report of a young female with progressive tumefactive demyelinating brain and spinal cord lesions. An extensive diagnostic process including two brain biopsies and an autopsy did not reveal any explanatory diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis. The patient was treated by various disease-modifying treatments without significant effect and died from ascendent infection via ventriculoperitoneal shunt resulting in Staphylococcus aureus meningitis.

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