Plasmacytoma of the skull mimicking an epidural hematoma: A case report

Rationale: Plasmacytoma as the 1st presentation of skull tumors is a rare disorder. When it is combined with brain trauma or dramatic changes in intracranial pressure, patients are more prone to misdiagnosis. Patient concerns: A 67-year-old woman complaining of a headache presented with a history of head trauma for the past 1 hour. Emergency head computed tomography initially suggested an epidural hematoma. Diagnosis: Emergency surgery was performed to remove the intracranial hematoma, but a tumor-like mass was found during surgery, and pathologic assessment confirmed plasmacytoma. Surgery was difficult because of bleeding. The tumor was radically removed. Interventions and outcomes: The patient underwent whole-brain radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She died 40 months after the surgery. Lessons: Epidural lesions found after a head injury may be assumed to be an epidural hematoma, leading to unnecessary surgery. Diseases such as hematomas, meningiomas, eosinophilic granulomas, bone metastases, and osteosarcomas must be considered.
Source: Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Research Article: Clinical Case Report Source Type: research