Korean J Leg Med.  2014 May;38(2):83-87. 10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.2.83.

Death by Subdural Hematoma with Metastatic Carcinoma of Unknown Origin: An Autopsy Case Report

• Lee HJ
• Kim KB
• Park JH
• Ha H

• KMID: 1849358
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7580/kjlm.2014.38.2.83

Abstract

Dural metastasis associated with chronic subdural hematoma is very rare in patients with malignant neoplasms; it may be difficult to distinguish malignant neoplasms from chronic subdural hematoma. Chronic subdural hematoma is usually a late manifestation of malignant tumors, which contributes to the severity of the prognosis. The scans obtained by using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography may be misleading when a subdural hematoma masks the underlying tumor. Herein, we report a case of a subdural hematoma with dural metastasis of unknown origin in a 45-year-old woman; however, the neoplasm was not detected until autopsy.

Keyword

Chronic subdural hematoma; Metastasis; Adenocarcinoma; Autopsy

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma
Autopsy*
Female
Hematoma, Subdural*
Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Masks
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. There was a small amount of mixed fresh and chronic hemorrhages in the subdural spaces of both sides (a). The underlying hemisphere was slightly edematous (b). Both lungs showed diffuse pneumonia patterns with occasional tiny nodules in all the lobes (c). The liver showed two hemorrhagic nodules. 3.0 × 2.0 cm in size in right lobe and 1.5 × 1.5 cm size in left lobe (d).

• 

  Fig. 2. There were multiple foci of metastatic adenocarcinoma in the dura mater (a, H&E, × 200), lung (b, H&E, × 100) and liver (c, H&E, × 100).

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