Occipital lobe meningioma in a patient with multiple chemical sensitivities

✍ Scribed by Joel F. Moorhead; Anthony J. Suruda

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 138 KB
• Volume: 37
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(200004)37:4<443::aid-ajim15>3.0.co;2-l

✦ Synopsis

Background The concurrent diagnosis of meningioma with increased intracranial pressure has not been reported previously in a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). Methods A patient who had been evaluated in an occupational medicine practice, and by several other physicians for sensitivity to chemical odors was found to have papilledema and a visual ®eld de®cit. The patient met the clinical criteria set forth by Cullen in 1987 for MCS. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed.

Results

The MRI revealed a large occipital lobe meningioma, which was surgically resected. Removal of the meningioma had little effect on the patient's symptoms. She has been unable to return to her job as a custodian. Discussion The etiology of MCS has been disputed and is currently unresolved. Those who evaluate patients with MCS are reminded that meningiomas and other intracranial mass lesions can affect olfaction, and that patients with MCS can have treatable intracranial abnormalities. Am.