Cerebellar mass as a location of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Neuroradiol J. 2014 Sep;27(4):439-43. doi: 10.15274/NRJ-2014-10069. Epub 2014 Aug 29.

Abstract

A 22-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was referred to our observation for headache, cervical pain and sopor. A computed tomography study revealed triventricular obstructive hydrocephalus due to a left cerebellar hyperdense mass impinging on the fourth ventricle. A magnetic resonance study demonstrated an area of hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, hypointensity on T1, restricted diffusivity and contrast enhancement involving the left hemispherical cerebellar cortex and the vermis and causing cerebellar herniation. After surgical excision of the lesion, histological examination revealed an infiltrate of lymphoblastic leukaemia with B cells. Leukaemic intracranial masses are rare. Our report describes a case presenting a cerebellar mass of leukaemic tissue characterized by high cellularity and low apparent diffusion coefficient value comparable to acute ischaemia. Therefore leukaemic intracranial mass has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of cerebellar masses.

Keywords: MRI; acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; apparent diffusion coefficient; cerebellar mass.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / complications
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalocele / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalocele / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult