Frontal Lobe Meningioma Masquerading as Depressive Disorder

Tajamul Hussain,Mahak Shafat,Jahangeer Ahmad Bhat

doi:10.4172/2378-5756.1000328

Abstract

Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors thought to arise from the arachnoid cap cells, which reside in the arachnoid layer covering the surface of the brain [1]. Meningiomas account for approximately 25% of all primary intracranial neoplasms; most of them are benign and their incidence increases with age [2]. These tumors can arise anywhere, most commonly within the skull and at sites of dural reflection (falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, venous sinuses) [3]. Meningiomas are extremely slowed growing and often asymptomatic. Small tumors (e.g., <2.0 cm) are usually incidental findings at autopsy without having caused symptoms. Larger tumors can cause symptoms depending on the size and location. The frontal lobes of the brain are notoriously “silent”: Benign tumors such as meningiomas that compress the frontal lobes from the outside may not produce any symptoms other than progressive change of personality and intellect until they are large. Patients with such tumors are often referred first to psychiatrists, and the correct diagnosis may emerge only when the tumor has grown large and has begun to displace the brain [4].

Highlights

Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors thought to arise from the arachnoid cap cells, which reside in the arachnoid layer covering the surface of the brain [1]
A good deal of the neuropsychiatric symptomatology is a consequence of cerebral edema and raised intracranial pressure
Psychiatric sequelae of meningiomas were found to correlate with the extent of peritumoral edema rather than the size of the tumor itself [5]

Summary

Introduction

Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors thought to arise from the arachnoid cap cells, which reside in the arachnoid layer covering the surface of the brain [1]. Meningiomas account for approximately 25% of all primary intracranial neoplasms; most of them are benign and their incidence increases with age [2] These tumors can arise anywhere, most commonly within the skull and at sites of dural reflection (falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, venous sinuses) [3]. The frontal lobes of the brain are notoriously “silent”: Benign tumors such as meningiomas that compress the frontal lobes from the outside may not produce any symptoms other than progressive change of personality and intellect until they are large. Patients with such tumors are often referred first to psychiatrists, and the correct diagnosis may emerge only when the tumor has grown large and has begun to displace the brain [4]

Case History

Findings

Discussion