A case report of Meningioma with uncal herniation in pregnancy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis and management of meningioma during pregnancy is a challenge, with growth and regression both reported. The occurrence of meningioma during pregnancy is rare, comparable with that in non-pregnant woman in the same age group. We report a case of meningioma with uncal herniation leading to maternal death during pregnancy. CASE: Thirty-year-old woman was referred to our unit on her 20th weeks of gestation for severe headache and vomiting. This is her third pregnancy with two living children, both delivered by caesarean section. She had early morning headache, lasting for 1 to 2 hours which resolved following vomiting from16th week of gestation. She did not have visual impairment, photophobia or focal neurological ymptoms. She was admitted to base hospital for increased frequency and severity of headache on her 18th week of gestation. Neurological examination was normal. Her blood pressure was normal throughout this pregnancy. She defaulted herneurology appointment. She was readmitted for same symptoms and transferred to our hospital. She complained severe headache, vomiting and blurred vision on day of admission followed by difficulty in breathing. Her SPO was 84 % on air and respiratory rate was 32/minutes. Ophthalmoscopy was normal. She was intubated for impending respiratory arrest and non-contrast CT was performed. CT showed Right sided sphenoidal wing tumour suggestive of a meningioma with midline shift and uncal herniation. She developed repeated episodes of a systole before transfer to neurosurgical unit and did not recover. Postmortem findings and histology confirmed the diagnosis of meningothelial type of meningioma. DISCUSSION: Intracranial tumours in pregnant woman are serious and life threatening conditions. The clinical presentation of intracranial mass mimics the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum, eclampsia and puerperal psychosis. MRI of the brain is the investigation of choice for prompt diagnosis of meningioma. Surgery is the key in the management of meningioma depend on the site of tumour. The general recommendation in pregnancy is for caesarean section as first surgery followed by neurosurgical interventions. Urgent neurosurgical linterventions are indicated for patients with malignant tumours, active hydrocephalus or benign tumours with impending herniation or progressive neurological deficits.