Abstract
The term tumefactive demyelination (TD) describes intra-axial space occupying lesions of the brain which histopathologically are characterized by perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, macrophages, reactive astrocytes and myelin loss. Most lesions are located within the brain. As there is no reliable clinical, imaging or laboratory hint to diagnose TD biopsy is mandatory. Whereas several patients initially presenting with TD develop multiple sclerosis or central nervous system lymphoma a subset of TD patients remains stable without further disease activity. TD in these patients may be coined ‘idiopathic’. Mechanisms which induce TD are not known. Assuming an underlying auto-immune process treatment includes steroids, plasma exchange and immunosuppressive agents.
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Häne, A., Roelcke, U. (2014). Tumefactive Demyelination. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 13. Tumors of the Central Nervous System, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7602-9_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7602-9_24
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