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Intracranial Inflammatory Tumors: A Survey of their Various Etiologies by Presentation of 5 Cases

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Abstract

Due to similar clinical and neuroradiological features, intracranial inflammatory tumors (IITs) are frequently mis-diagnosed as brain neoplasms, from which they notably differ in respect to therapy and prognosis. In this article, five cases of such tumors are presented. Three of the patients with brain tumors (cases 3, 4 and 5) presented a history of ‘pararheumatic’ syndromes but no diagnosis of defined immunopathies. On the basis of radiological findings, all processes were classified as genuine brain neoplasms, but histology showed reactive inflammatory features. The possible etiologies of these ‘tumors’ are discussed on the basis of all clinical and histological data of the patients. The spectrum of diseases potentially leading to the manifestation of an IIT is reviewed. Additionally, the presentation of case 5, who developed a highly malignant B-cell-lymphoma 6 months after the removal of an IIT without any histological signs of atypia, shows that this differential diagnosis always has to be kept in mind.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany

    Eckmund Postler, Antje Bornemann & Richard Meyermann

  2. Department of Neuroradiology, Radiological Clinic, University of Tübingen, Germany

    Martin Skalej

  3. Institute of Pathology, University of Tübingen, Germany

    Stefan Kröber & Edwin Kaiserling

  4. Neurosurgical Clinic, Asklepios Clinics, Seesen, Germany

    Juergen Wickboldt

Authors
  1. Eckmund Postler
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  2. Antje Bornemann
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  3. Martin Skalej
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  4. Stefan Kröber
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  5. Edwin Kaiserling
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  6. Juergen Wickboldt
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  7. Richard Meyermann
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Postler, E., Bornemann, A., Skalej, M. et al. Intracranial Inflammatory Tumors: A Survey of their Various Etiologies by Presentation of 5 Cases. J Neurooncol 43, 209–217 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006294117031

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006294117031

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