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Case Report
Intracranial tumor
manifesting in the 2nd week of pregnancy: Case
report in a 24year old female.
Erondu Okechukwu Felix1, Okoro
Chinedum Richards1, Aniemeka Joy Ifeanyi2,
Ugwu Anthony Chukwuka3, Obi Iwuagwu4
1
Department of Clinical
Imaging, Image Diagnostics, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
2
Department of
Radiology,University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital
3Department of Radiography,
Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
4
Department of Radiology, Wansbeck Gen Hospital, Ashington,
UK.
*Corresponding
author email:
okerons@yahoo.com. Tel.:+2348023129893
Received 13 February,
2010; Accepted 06 March, 2010
Abstract
The presence of a brain tumor complicating pregnancy is a
relatively rare phenomenon. Though several cases have been
recorded, there is scanty data describing such an occurrence
in Nigeria and particularly cerebellar glioma. Pregnancy
often masks the presence of an intracranial neoplasm, and
may increase the risk of mis-diagnosis. This is because
symptoms such as headache, vomiting, visual disturbance
which are signs of raised intracranial pressure, are often
encountered in pregnancy with or without pre-eclampsia. A
high index of suspicion on the part of the obstetrician is
key to timely diagnosis. Although an enhanced brain CT is
able to make the diagnosis readily and facilitate further
management, MRI is superior in defining the exact
relationships of intracranial S.O.L, but may not be readily
available in developing countries as in the present
circumstance. Diagnostic imaging such as CT scan
performed timely, is extremely useful in demonstrating the
size, location and relationship of a possible lesion.
Furthermore, because it is more widely available than MRI,
it is often an invaluable tool in the initial assessment of
normo-tensive pregnant patients presenting with features of
raised ICP. Once diagnosis is made, the management can be
successfully tailored to suit individual patients’ need.
Despite the challenges posed by non-surgical management of
glioma during pregnancy, normal delivery and healthy live
birth is still possible.
Keywords: Intracranial tumor, glioma, pregnancy,
manifestation, appearances.
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