The need for neuroimaging in first manifestations of psychiatric symptoms

Christian Saleh; Ulrich Seidl; Gregor Hutter; Margret Hund-Georgiadis

doi:10.25259/SNI_754_2021

The need for neuroimaging in first manifestations of psychiatric symptoms

Surg Neurol Int. 2021 Sep 6:12:441. doi: 10.25259/SNI_754_2021. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Christian Saleh¹, Ulrich Seidl², Gregor Hutter³, Margret Hund-Georgiadis¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Center for Neurorehabilitation and Paraplegiology, REHAB Basel.
² Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, SHG-Kliniken Sonnenberg, Saarbrücken, Germany.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Baselland, Switzerland.

Abstract

Background: Brain imaging in psychiatry, especially by first-episode psychiatric symptoms, is unfortunately not a standard procedure in psychiatric clinics and is recommended only if indicated by history or if associated with neurological findings. As a result, the most serious diagnoses can be delayed or missed.

Case description: We describe a patient who presented with psychiatric symptoms admitted initially to a psychiatric clinic. Thanks to routine imaging the diagnosis of a brain tumor could be made with prompt transfer to neurosurgery.

Conclusion: Brain imaging should be a mandatory procedure upon admission to a psychiatric clinic also in patients who present with exclusive psychiatric symptoms.

Keywords: Brain tumor; Diagnostic work-up; Imaging; Neurology; Neurosurgery; Psychiatry.

Publication types

Case Reports