[A 78-year-old woman who had an onset of seizure and right hemiparesis at the age 77].

We report a 78-year-old woman who had an onset of convulsion and right hemiparesis at the age 77. She had been well until October 28th of 1990 when she suddenly developed a seizure starting in her right face with secondary generalization. She was admitted to Saitama Kyodo Hospital where neurologic examination revealed confusion with slight right hemiparesis; deep reflexes were exaggerated on the right side; otherwise neurologic examination was unremarkable. Cranial CT scan revealed an iso-density mass in the left motor area with extensive edema extending into left anterior frontal as well as parietal regions; by contrast enhancement, a homogeneous enhancement of the tumor was noted. She was treated with glycerol and phenytoin, and she became alert two days after her admission. The diagnosis of metastatic brain tumor was entertained; extensive malignancy survey was performed, however, no primary tumor was found. As neurosurgical procedure was refused, she was discharged on December 16th of 1990. She noted worsening of her right hemiparesis in the end of February, 1991, and she was admitted again on March 18th of 1991. On neurologic examination, she was disoriented to time and place; she was apparently demented. Her right hemiparesis was more advanced and she was unable to walk. Her hospital course was complicated by disturbance of consciousness and pneumonia, and she died on August 22nd of 1991. The patient was discussed in a neurological CPC. Opinions were divided between meningioma and a metastatic brain tumor. Other possibilities raised included malignant lymphoma and glioblastoma multiforme. As edema was very extensive on CT, many participants thought that it might be a metastatic brain tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)