Abstract

Background:Altered mental status describes impaired mental functioning ranging from confusion to coma and indicates an illness, either metabolic or structural in nature. Metabolic causes include hypothyroidism, hyperuremia, hypo/hyperglycemia, hypo/hypernatremia, and encephalopathy. The structural causes include tumors, brain hemorrhage, infection, and stroke. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which a patient presented with altered mental status from both metabolic (myxedema coma) and structural diseases (frontal meningioma) with vasogenic edema and midline shift.

Case Description:A 55-year-old female presented with progressive coma. The clinical features included bradycardia and hypothermia. The imaging demonstrated a large frontal meningioma with a significant midline shift with laboratory findings suggestive of severe hypothyroidism and myxedema coma. Hypothyroidism was treated aggressively with intravenous T3 and T4 with close neurosurgical observation. Osmodiuretics and steroids were administered as temporizing agents prior to craniotomy. Craniotomy was successfully undertaken after using these appropriate pre-emptive measures.

Conclusions:Management of concomitant metabolic encephalopathy and meningioma with vasogenic edema and impending herniation can be challenging. Correction of the encephalopathy is crucial to minimize perioperative morbidity and mortality. Awareness of metabolic causes of acute decompensation is critical for perioperative management, so a high index of clinical suspicion can make an important timely diagnosis for treatment initiation. Severely hypothyroid patients are sensitive to anesthetic agents and are at a high risk for perioperative complications. Prompt treatment prior to surgical intervention can help minimize perioperative complications.

Keywords: Altered mental status, hypothyroidism, meningioma, myxedema coma, neoplasm

INTRODUCTION

Altered mental status is a general term used to describe various disorders of mental functioning that can range from slight confusion to coma. A high index of clinical suspicion is required for timely diagnosis and treatment. The causes of altered mental status can be divided into metabolic and structural diseases. Metabolic causes include drugs and toxins, infections, hypo/hyperglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, uremia, hepatic encephalopathy, hypoxia, hypertensive encephalopathy, and hypo/hyperthyroidism.[ 11 ] Structural causes include tumors, brain hemorrhage, infection, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Mental status changes with apathy, and inattention may result from structural disorders of the brain. Meningioma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, accounting for 35–40% of symptomatic primary brain tumors.[ 27 ] They are benign and typically asymptomatic because they are slow growing and take years to generate a mass effect. Clinical manifestations and severity of symptoms depend on the location of the tumor.[ 27 ] The most common manifestations are focal findings such as headache, seizure, visual field defects, loss of hearing or smell, extremity weakness, and mental status changes, which can result from large subfrontal or sphenoid ridge meningioma. Malignant (WHO grade III) and atypical meningioma (WHO Grade II) comprise only 5% of total instances, with a slight male predominance.[ 28 ] Treatment of intracranial meningioma may include serial follow-up, surgical resection, or radiosurgery. If discovered earlier in a young patient, surgical resection is less complicated and usually provides cure if radical resection is performed. Radiosurgery may follow if the residual tumor was left behind and may be performed for isolated tumors in deeper regions of the brain or those that are closer to delicate structures. However, if the tumor continues to grow to cause significant mass effect and vasogenic edema, as in the current case, it can produce not only altered mental status but also significant neurologic deterioration with higher morbidity and mortality.

Metabolic causes of acute altered mental status must also be ruled out and are common among the elderly with complex underlying medical conditions. Acute metabolic encephalopathy is a condition of global cerebral dysfunction in the absence of primary structural brain disease. Examples include hypertensive, toxic, hepatic, hypoxic ischemic, and Hashimoto's encephalopathy (myxedema coma). Myxedema coma, a rare cause of metabolic encephalopathy, is defined as a severe form of untreated hypothyroidism leading to decreased mental status, bradycardia, hypothermia, hypercapnia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hypoventilation.[ 21 ] Patients usually present with altered mental status rather than coma. Physical examination findings include puffiness of the hands and face, a thickened nose, swollen lips, and an enlarged tongue that may occur secondary to nonpitting edema with abnormal deposits of mucin in the skin and other tissues.[ 23 ] It is a life threatening emergency with a high mortality rate ranging 30–40%, so a high index of suspicion is mandatory among clinicians to rapidly recognize the condition and make an early diagnosis.[ 2 16 18 ] Hypothyroidism can decompensate and progress to myxedema coma because of many precipitating factors, including cold exposure, medication noncompliance, alcohol, sepsis, or myocardial infarction.[ 23 ] History obtained from family members often reveals antecedent symptoms of thyroid dysfunction followed by progressive lethargy, stupor, and coma. Empiric treatment based on clinical evaluation should begin while awaiting laboratory confirmation, as well as intensive care level treatment with close monitoring of cardiovascular parameters and level of consciousness.[ 23 ]

The following case describes an acute onset of altered mental status secondary to undiagnosed severe hypothyroidism that led to myxedema coma with a concomitant large frontal brain meningioma with significant vasogenic edema and a midline shift. This case highlights the medical and surgical obstacles and decision-making process involved in the successful perioperative treatment of severe undiagnosed metabolic encephalopathy.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 55-year old female presented with altered mental status, lethargy, incontinence, and an unsteady gait. Past medical history was significant for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, lung carcinoma treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by lobectomy, and rheumatoid arthritis. Vital signs revealed a blood pressure of 116/76 mmHg, heart rate 45 bpm, respiratory rate of 10/min, temperature of 35.3°C, and SaO₂ 98%. She was alert and oriented to person but slow to respond and would not follow commands. Neurologic examination demonstrated a right facial droop, aphasia, right-sided neglect, and a right-sided pronator drift. Laboratory findings were significant for an elevated TSH (151 mcunit/mL) and a decreased free T4 (0.6 ng/dL). Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed a 4.0 × 3.1 × 3.3 cm AP/TR/CC left frontal temporal mass, with significant surrounding vasogenic edema, associated with mass effect/near-complete effacement of the left lateral ventricle and rightward midline shift of approximately 1 cm [ Figure 1 ]. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a meningioma in the left frontotemporal convexity with surrounding edema, a 1.3 cm midline shift to the right, and a compression of the lateral ventricle with transependymal resorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A left uncal herniation was noted.

Figure 1

CT Brain without contrast demonstrating 4 × 3 × 3 cm left frontal temporal mass with significant surrounding vasogenic edema, associated with mass effect/near complete effacement of the left lateral ventricle and rightward midline shift of approximately 1cm

Shortly thereafter, the patient became obtunded with worsening bradycardia (HR 40), bradypnea, and became comatose. A multidisciplinary team involving anesthesia, intensive care, endocrinology, and neurosurgery was called to evaluate the patient. The decision was made for aggressive treatment of the severe hypothyroidism with administration of intravenous T3 and T4 while using osmodiuretics and steroids as temporizing agents. Shortly thereafter, the patient returned to her baseline mental status. Neurosurgery was on standby with close neurological observation and preparedness for surgical intervention should deterioration have occurred while conservative medical management was continued. After medical optimization and resolution of altered mental status, the patient underwent frontotemporal craniotomy and tumor resection. Endotracheal intubation was uneventful, and general anesthesia was maintained with a balanced concentration of intravenous remifentanil and propofol with sevoflourane titrated to <0.5 MAC. The tumor was isolated in the Sylvian fissure, and given the location along the dominant frontal lobe and temporal lobe, decision was made to perform a subcapsular resection. Using a microsurgical technique, the tumor was aggressively resected and the integrity of all the pial surfaces and the arachnoid/capsule was maintained. The surgical procedure and general anesthesia were well tolerated and no complications were noted. The patient was awakened uneventfully after extubation in the surgical intensive care unit 4 hours postoperatively.

DISCUSSION

The case presents two major clinical causes of altered mental status in an otherwise healthy adult patient. Neurosurgeons are familiar with primary conditions in which the brain tumor causes severe hypothyroidism secondary to disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism). Our patient did not have a pituitary neoplasm but rather had two separate conditions unrelated to one another, metabolic encephalopathy, and an intracranial neoplasm, which posed an immediate threat to the patient.

Metabolic causes of altered mental status

Metabolic causes of altered mental status include drugs and toxins, infections, hypo/hyperglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, uremia, hepatic encephalopathy, hypertensive encephalopathy, metabolic encephalopathy, hypoxia, and hypo/hyperthyroidism. Myxedema coma is a rare cause of metabolic encephalopathy and is a life-threatening form of untreated hypothyroidism with metabolic decompensation and mortality that reaches near 100%, if left untreated. Even with optimal therapy, the mortality rate can reach up to 30–60%.[ 4 9 ] Early recognition is essential and treatment should begin while awaiting laboratory result confirmation.[ 22 ] It almost always occurs in women over the age of 60.[ 6 13 29 ] Exacerbating factors include acute events such as infection, myocardial infarction, cold exposure, or the administration of sedative drugs (especially opioids to a patient with severe hypothyroidism). Patients with myxedema coma have some hallmark features such as altered mental status, hypothermia, bradycardia, hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, and any precipitating illness.[ 23 ] If the diagnosis of myxedema coma is suspected, a blood sample should be drawn for measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4), and cortisol before initiating therapy with a glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone.[ 23 ]

Structural brain lesions of altered mental status

Structural changes of the brain should also be considered in patients with acute mental status changes. Some examples include brain hemorrhage, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, meningitis, and encephalitis. Meningioma is the most common adult primary brain neoplasm, accounting for 40% of all adult brain tumors. It causes chronic changes, and although symptoms are based on the location, size, and growth rate of the tumor, meningiomas are typically very slow growing and asymptomatic. The most common manifestations are focal findings such as headache, seizure, visual field deficits, loss of hearing or smell, extremity weakness, and mental status changes, all of which can result from large subfrontal or sphenoid ridge meningioma. Management of smaller, benign, and asymptomatic meningiomas typically includes close monitoring of symptoms and serial MRI studies. Treatment of atypical and malignant meningiomas can be treated with surgical resection or radiosurgery. If discovered earlier in a young patient, surgical resection is less complicated and usually provides cure if radical resection is performed. Radiosurgery may follow if the residual tumor was left behind and may be performed for isolated tumors in the deeper regions of the brain or those that are closer to delicate structures. However, if the tumor continues to grow to cause significant mass effect and vasogenic edema, it can produce not only altered mental status but also significant neurologic deterioration with higher morbidity and mortality. Certain preoperative measures should be taken, which include treating the cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure with corticosteroids, mannitol, and furosemide. Surgical morbidity ranges between 2% and 30%, and is dependent on a variety of factors such as size and location of tumor, patient age, and other metabolic comorbidities.

The current case illustrates severe metabolic encephalopathy with concomitant intracranial neoplasm with a significant midline shift, both of which are rare causes of acute decompensation. Differentiating between the causes of altered mental status was a challenging task, and despite the possibility of the meningioma-induced mass effect and herniation as a possible cause of altered mental status, the thyroid stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels in combination with the signs and symptoms of the patient's presentation (hypothermia, bradycardia, bradypnea, altered mental status) were sufficient to make the diagnosis of myxedema coma.

The multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing and treating this patient's altered mental status proved critical in avoiding significant perioperative morbidity and mortality associated with myxedema encephalopathy. Under the stress of surgery and general anesthesia, patients with untreated myxedema coma can exhibit significant myocardial depression and diastolic dysfunction, depressed respiratory drive and diaphragmatic weakness resulting in difficulty weaning from ventilator, decreased venous return and systemic vascular resistance, diminished response to alpha- and beta-adrenergic agents, and extreme sensitivity to opioids and sedatives [ Table 1 ].[ 7 ] If urgent or emergent surgery is required, patients with severe hypothyroidism should receive treatment of their disease prior to surgery, as time allows, to minimize said complications.[ 3 ] Treatment guidelines are listed in Table 2 . The risk of delaying surgical intervention to treat the confounding metabolic disorder should also be considered as physiologic decompensation, seizures, respiratory failure, and death from the impending herniation and mass effect of the meningioma could outweigh the benefits of medical optimization. Vigilant and rapid correction of thyroid hormone while monitoring the progress of the mass effect is crucial.

Table 1

Risks and complications of general anesthesia for patients with severe hypothyroidism[ 10]

Table 2

Treatment guidelines for severe hypothyroidism[ 23]

If emergency surgery must be performed without the luxury of preoperatively treating myxedema coma, certain measures should be taken to decrease the risk of complications. Avoidance of benzodiazepines and opioids should be considered due to increased sensitivity and risk of respiratory failure. Induction can be achieved with ketamine, offering sympathetic stimulation in a state of hypotension, low cardiac output, intravascular volume depletion, and blunted baroreceptor reflexes. Ketamine use in traumatic brain injury was once considered contraindicated when associated with an elevation of ICP, with recent studies now demonstrating level 2 B grade C evidence showing that ketamine does not appreciably increase ICP.[ 30 ] Resolution of hypotension can be achieved by administration of direct-acting inotropes instead of phenylephrine or ephedrine, secondary to the diminished response to alpha agonists. Rocuronium may be used as a paralytic agent because of its intermediate duration of action. Volatile anesthetics should be avoided or titrated to less than 0.5 MAC due to the risk of significant myocardial depression, and TIVA with supplemental nitrous oxide may be considered.

Medical management in this case included intravenous thyroid hormone therapy, osmodiuretics, and steroids. Steroids are recommended for reduction of intracranial pressure for all patients with peritumoral edema as improvement in neurological function can be seen within hours.[ 31 ] Coincidentally, steroids also play a significant role in hypothyroidism because these patients can have associated primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). Hypoadrenalism can closely mimic myxedema coma with overlapping clinical features that include decreased mental status, weakness, fatigue, hypothermia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, constipation, and precipitating illness. Second, thyroid hormone supplementation can exacerbate adrenal insufficiency. Third, glucocorticoids have been found to potentiate the metabolic effect of T3, as well as decrease TSH by increasing the sensitivity of TRH from the hypothalamus.[ 23 ] Conclusively, steroids are an excellent temporizing agent and are quintessential in the management of brain meningioma with concomitant myxedema coma as they can decrease intracranial pressure as well as potentiate the effect of T3 while empirically treating potential hypoadrenalism.

When assessing a patient for altered mental status, metabolic causes of delirium must always be ruled out. If surgery must be performed in a patient with hypothyroidism and there is concern about existing or precipitating myxedema coma, treatment with osmodiuretics and steroids have proven to be useful adjuvants to control critical elevations of intracranial pressure while waiting for therapeutic levels of both T3 and T4 to maximize perioperative tolerance under anesthesia and surgery.[ 15 ] A stepwise approach for the perioperative management and medical optimization for successful treatment of a metabolic encephalopathy with structural derangement can be applied using the proposed algorithm [ Figure 2 ].

Figure 2

Stepwise algorithm for combined metabolic encephalopathy and structural brain lesion

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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