Abstract

Background: Neoplastic cerebral aneurysms related to metastatic processes are exceptionally rare and carry a dismal prognosis. Only four previous reports exist of neoplastic aneurysms secondary to metastatic adenocarcinoma, all of which were found to be lung cancer in origin. We present the fifth reported metastatic adenocarcinomatous cerebral aneurysm, and the first case is secondary to a non-lung cancer primary.

Case Description: The patient presented with complaining of headache and was found to have a large right-sided intraparenchymal hemorrhage and smaller left-sided hemorrhage on head CT, and CTA revealed a vascular pouch in the region of the hemorrhage. The patient showed sudden neurologic decline, and repeat imaging revealed enlargement of the hematoma with significant brain compression. The patient underwent emergent angiography revealing a distal cortical middle cerebral artery aneurysm, suspicious for mycotic etiology, which was treated through microsurgical excision at the time of hematoma evacuation. The aneurysm specimen was sent for cultures and pathology, revealing the diagnosis of metastatic non-small-cell carcinoma. Further inpatient workup did not reveal the primary neoplastic source.

Conclusion: Although diagnostic workup should search for more common pathologic mimics than metastatic neoplastic cerebral aneurysms, clinicians must be able to recognize and expeditiously treat this devastating lesion. Further investigation and analysis of treatment options are necessary to better understand this rare pathology and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, Aneurysm, Case report, Intracranial hemorrhage, Metastatic

INTRODUCTION

Cerebral aneurysms secondary to metastatic neoplastic processes are exceedingly rare, with less than 100 cases reported in the literature.[ 11 ] The majority of documented cases are secondary to cardiac myxoma, and the remainder related to choriocarcinoma, lymphoma, or occasionally to metastases of other origin.[ 10 ] There are only four documented cases of metastatic aneurysms with primary etiology of metastatic adenocarcinoma, and all four cases were associated with known primary lung cancer.[ 2 , 6 , 8 , 10 ]

We present a patient with no known cancer history, who presented with aneurysmal hemorrhage, initially presumed to be mycotic in etiology due to the lesion’s location and morphology. Intraoperative pathology, however, revealed non-small-cell adenocarcinoma. Imaging of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis did not reveal a culprit lesion, rendering lung adenocarcinoma an unlikely source and leaving breast adenocarcinoma as the leading primary diagnosis among adenocarcinoma of other distant sites. This case would represent the first reported case of metastatic aneurysm secondary to adenocarcinoma of the breast or of any non-lung origin.

CASE SUMMARY

Clinical presentation

A 67-year-old right-handed female presented to the hospital with a headache which began the day prior. Head CT revealed a 4.7 × 3.8 × 2.2 cm right parietal intraparenchymal hemorrhage and 1 cm left parietal intraparenchymal hemorrhage [ Figure 1 ]. The patient was neurologically intact upon initial presentation. Upon further workup, CTA revealed a spot sign with vascular pouch in the region of the right-sided hemorrhage, raising concern for mycotic aneurysm or a dural AV fistula [ Figure 2 ], warranting the need for digital subtraction angiography. Shortly afterward, the patient suddenly became lethargic with facial asymmetry and left hemiparesis. Repeat head CT revealed enlargement of the right-sided hematoma to 5.8 × 5.5 × 5.0 cm with 1.3 cm brain compression and midline shift [ Figure 3 ].

Figure 1:

Axial non-contrast head CT upon initial presentation. (a) Right parietal hemorrhage (b) left parietal hemorrhage.

Figure 2:

Axial CTA revealing the vascular lesion in the hematoma.

Figure 3:

Axial non-contrast head CT revealing the expanding intraparenchymal hemorrhage pattern with mass effect.

Intraoperative course

The patient was taken emergently for angiography with the intent to identify and treat the underlying vascular malformation if amenable to endovascular treatment, before craniotomy for hematoma evacuation. Angiogram revealed a distal cortical middle cerebral artery (MCA) fusiform aneurysm, raising suspicion for mycotic etiology given the location [ Figure 4 ], and hence, it was decided to address the aneurysm during the hematoma evacuation. The patient underwent stereotactic right parietal minicraniotomy. After initial partial intraparenchymal hematoma evacuation, a pseudoaneurysm capsule was identified along the distal posterior parietal MCA branches with two clear superficial outflow vessels [ Figure 5 ]. The aneurysm was isolated and excised, and the specimen was sent for pathology and cultures. Given the superficial location and small caliber arteries, bypass reconstruction was not contemplated.

Figure 4:

Lateral right internal carotid artery angiography demonstrating the angioarchitecture of the offending aneurysm.

Figure 5:

Intraoperative image demonstrating the afferent vessel (clip) as well as the two efferent vessels and the aneurysm specimen.

Histopathology and post-operative course

Given the suspicion for mycotic aneurysm, a transesophageal echocardiogram was obtained and was negative for any evidence of endocarditis or atrial myxoma. Final intraoperative cultures and blood cultures were negative for any infectious process. Head CTs demonstrated small contralateral hemorrhage without evidence of vascular pathology or metastatic disease on cerebral angiography or MRI.

Pathology was consistent with metastatic non-small-cell adenocarcinoma within the aneurysmal wall, with immunohistochemistry staining positive for CK7 and negative for CK 5/6, CK 20, TTF-1, and p63. Given these findings, oncology was consulted, and CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis was obtained and was negative for a malignancy source. Further workup was planned once the patient improved clinically, including PET scan to determine the location of the underlying malignancy. The patient recovered neurologically; however, she developed pneumonia and sepsis 2 weeks later, and the family elected hospice care.

DISCUSSION

Given the rarity of neoplastic cerebral aneurysms, there is an overall lack of understanding of the pathophysiology involved in their formation. Multiple theories have been postulated regarding the cause of vessel damage that leads to the formation of such aneurysms.[ 11 ] Likely, a series of events must occur in sequence, beginning with the embolization of tumor particles. In one theory, the circulating tumor cells must invade the blood vessel endothelium, leading to growth and ultimately destruction of the arterial wall.[ 1 , 11 ] Another theory hypothesizes that tumor embolization leads to altered blood flow dynamics and a consequent predisposition to aneurysm formation.[ 8 , 9 ] The presence of the small contralateral bleed on our patient’s head CT despite no identifiable lesions on angiography support the high likelihood of an underlying systemic pathology. There are only seven reported cases of metastatic cerebral aneurysms, and in three of these cases, a second remote hemorrhagic lesion was found [ Table 1 ].

Table 1:

Reports of metastatic neoplastic cerebral aneurysms.

While lung and breast carcinoma are the most common sources of metastatic brain tumors, there are no reported cases of metastatic cerebral aneurysms secondary to breast cancer or any non-lung origin. Of the seven existing cases, secondary to lung cancer, four were confirmed on histopathology, and the remainder were presumed based on active lung cancer lesions.[ 2 - 6 , 8 , 10 ] All of these patients presented with intracerebral hemorrhage, and all but one died within 3 months of aneurysm diagnosis.[ 8 ] In our patient, histopathology was reviewed by multiple pathologists, with breast cancer determined as the most likely source of the adenocarcinomatous morphology, especially in the context of negative CT chest/abdomen/ pelvis.

Given the trend toward poor outcomes, awareness and prompt recognition of this potential diagnosis are critical. Similar to mycotic aneurysms, neoplastic aneurysms are generally small, fusiform, and peripherally located. They are best detected on angiography but may only be identifiable by delayed contrast washout in the arterial phase and/or decreased flow in the venous phase.[ 7 , 11 ] In our patient, the pseudoaneurysm was detected angiographically based on the pattern of contrast stasis. Of note, although embolization of the harboring vessel was a treatment option, microsurgical resection was elected over endovascular treatment given the need for hematoma evacuation.

There is a shortage of data on the treatment and outcomes of these lesions, with a lacking consensus on optimal management. Of the seven reported neoplastic lung cancer aneurysms, only one patient achieved a good functional outcome (at 6 months).[ 2 - 6 , 8 , 10 ] This patient’s cranial disease was treated as a solitary metastatic tumor, with stereotactic radiosurgery to the operative bed following initial trapping and excision of the aneurysm.[ 10 ] Three cases were treated with trapping and ligation without further treatment to the brain, and the remaining three received no treatment.[ 4 ]

CONCLUSION

Neoplastic cerebral aneurysms are rare but devastating lesions with the potential to rupture and carry significant morbidity and mortality risk. Clinicians must be aware of this potential aneurysm etiology and able to promptly conduct the appropriate diagnostic workup for such lesions as well as their pathologic mimics, especially when endovascular treatment is utilized which eliminates the benefit of pathology diagnosis. Further investigation of treatment options and outcomes will allow for better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology behind neoplastic aneurysm formation and may ultimately improve outcomes for these patients.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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