Neoplastic angioendotheliosis. The case of the missed primary?

Arch Neurol. 1979 Jan;36(1):5-7. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1979.00500370035004.

Abstract

Two patients are described, of whom one suffered from progressive dementia, the other with a picture suggestive of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Both were found at necropsy to have small vessels throughout the body clogged with malignant cells with resultant cerebral infarcts. The source in one case was a 1-cm tumor in the thyroid, in the other a microscopic focus in the pancreas. It is suggested that most cases described as neoplastic angioendotheliosis involving the brain represent vascular dissemination of an unrecognized primary carcinoma rather than a miraculously widespread malignant endothelial transformation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology
  • Dementia / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hemangioendothelioma / diagnosis*
  • Hemangioendothelioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology