Inroduction
This case presents unexpected association between disease and symptoms. We believe that it should compel clinicians to rethink the known behaviors of the benign tumors, in particular meningioma which can gain independent metastatic potential. This report aims to increase the awareness of clinicians toward patients with this unusual and clinically isolated pattern, because metastases can remain misdiagnosed for a long period of time. This case contributes to medical knowledge, diagnostic and prognostic approaches. This is also the first case of metastatic meningioma reported in Lithuania.
Case report
We report a 66-year-old woman who presented with persistent productive cough, dyspnea, fever and weakness during physical activity. Chest radiographs revealed multiple small round shaped pulmonary nodules. Thoracoscopic resection and histopathology showed a benign meningioma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain demonstrated a small dural-based mass in the left pontocerebellar angle connected with deep dilated cerebral venous network and superior petrosal sinus. Morphological findings of this tumor were consistent with a World Health Organization (WHO) grade I fibrous meningioma.
Conclusion
Meningiomas are usually non-invasive tumors and do not metastasize and hence, are perceived as benign tumors. Patients with this uncommon and clinically isolated pattern of metastases can remain misdiagnosed for a long period of time, due to unexpected behavior of this particular tumor. This case report denies most of the criteria of possible risk factors for the development of metastases from a meningioma what allows to consider it as tumor with unpredictable behavior.