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Alcohol Dependence in a Patient with Brain Tumor
Vinko Čatipović
Radomir Drobac
Abstract
Alcoholism is accompanied by many physical, neurological, psychical and social complications. Relevant literature explains the etiologic association between alcoholism and upper gastrointestinal tract carcinoma; however, alcoholism may also be associated with tumors of other localizations. Presentation is made of a patient with alcohol dependence with development of meningioma. The patient was admitted to Department of Psychiatry, Bjelovar General Hospital, for the treatment of alcoholism. The history and hetero-history data showed prolonged intensive alcoholism associated with impaired family and occupational functioning. The immediate reason for presentation was his employer.s demand to undergo treatment due to severe impairment of occupational functioning. On admission, discrepancy between pronounced memorizing and recollection deficits, and relatively preserved somatic status, free from personality deterioration was observed. Mild dysarthria and coordination disturbances along with verified memorizing deficit indicated neuroradiological studies, which confirmed the suspected brain tumor. Although there are no literature reports suggesting an etiologic association of alcoholism and brain meningioma, the concurrence of alcoholism and many other diseases, with the possible overlooking either of them, was already indicated by Bleuler, noting that the comorbid groups of symptoms may assume an .alcoholic tinge.. The aim of the present report is to point to difficulties in the differential diagnosis of alcoholism and to the risk of independent pathologic conditions being masked by alcohol dependence.
Keywords
Brain neoplasms - etiology; Brain neoplasms - diagnosis; Alcoholism - complications; Risk factors; Case report
Hrčak ID:
14080
URI
Publication date:
1.5.2006.
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