Melanoma brain metastases presenting as delirium: a case report



Document title: Melanoma brain metastases presenting as delirium: a case report
Journal: Archives of clinical psychiatry
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000407891
Authors: 1
1
1
1
Institutions: 1Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Universitario, Coimbra. Portugal
Year:
Season: Mar-Abr
Volumen: 44
Number: 2
Pages: 53-54
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Correspondencia
Approach: Caso clínico
English abstract Metastatic tumours sometimes present with neuropsychiatric symptoms, however psychiatric symptoms as rarely the first clinical manifestation. Cutaneous melanoma is the third most common cause of brain metastasis, with known risk factors increasing the chance of such central nervous system metastization. Objectives We present a clinical report of delirium as the first clinical manifestation of melanoma brain metastases, illustrating the relevance of an adequate and early differential diagnosis. Methods In addition to describing the clinical case, searches were undertaken in PubMed and other databases using keywords such as “brain metastasis”, “melanoma”, “agitation”, “psychiatric” and “delirium”. Results We here report the case of a 52-year-old female patient evaluated by Liaison Psychiatry after sudden onset of delirium while admitted at the Gastroenterology Department to study a hypothesis of pancreatitis. A head CT scan identified brain metastases, and after further examination, including brain biopsy, melanoma brain metastization was confirmed. Discussion Some of the diagnostic challenges of psychiatric symptoms associated with secondary brain tumours are discussed, underlining the importance of an adequate differential diagnosis when working in Psychiatry Liaison
Disciplines: Medicina
Keyword: Neurología,
Oncología,
Psiquiatría,
Melanoma,
Cerebro,
Metástasis,
Manifestaciones clínicas,
Delirio
Keyword: Medicine,
Neurology,
Oncology,
Psychiatry,
Melanoma,
Brain,
Metastasis,
Clinical manifestations,
Delirium
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