High-Grade Glioma Mimicking Eclampsia in Pregnancy: A Case Report.
- 1Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, GBR.
- 2Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prashanth Super Speciality Hospital, Chennai, IND.
Abstract
Eclampsia is the most common cause of new-onset seizures after 20 weeks of gestation and requires immediate treatment. However, not all seizures in pregnancy are caused by hypertensive disorders, and structural intracranial lesions may present with similar clinical features. A 39-year-old primigravida at 25+6 weeks' gestation presented to Prashanth Super Speciality Hospital with severe hypertension (200/100 mmHg), proteinuria, altered sensorium, and recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures. She was initially managed as eclampsia with suspected posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Owing to maternal instability, an emergency lower-segment caesarean section was performed. Persistent neurological impairment after delivery prompted neuroimaging. Computed tomography demonstrated a left frontal intracerebral haemorrhage, while magnetic resonance imaging revealed a haemorrhagic left frontal mass with surrounding oedema, midline shift, and PRES-like imaging features. Following urgent neurosurgical intervention, the patient underwent left frontal craniotomy and complete tumour excision. Histopathological examination confirmed a high-grade glioma. The patient recovered well postoperatively and was referred to the neuro-oncology team and subsequently underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The neonate was delivered at 25+6 weeks' gestation and died on day 2 of life despite neonatal intensive care. This case demonstrates that structural brain tumours may closely mimic eclampsia, even in the presence of severe hypertension and proteinuria. Persistent neurological abnormalities following standard treatment for eclampsia should prompt urgent neuroimaging to exclude underlying intracranial pathology. Early multidisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians, critical care specialists, radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neonatologists, and oncologists is essential to optimise maternal outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{karthic2026highgrade,
title = {{High-Grade Glioma Mimicking Eclampsia in Pregnancy: A Case Report.}},
author = {Sutharsika Karthic},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.117087},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953781},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - High-Grade Glioma Mimicking Eclampsia in Pregnancy: A Case Report.
AU - Sutharsika Karthic
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/28
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.117087
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953781
AB - Eclampsia is the most common cause of new-onset seizures after 20 weeks of gestation and requires immediate treatment. However, not all seizures in pregnancy are caused by hypertensive disorders, and structural intracranial lesions may present with similar clinical features. A 39-year-old primigravida at 25+6 weeks' gestation presented to Prashanth Super Speciality Hospital with severe hypertension (200/100 mmHg), proteinuria, altered sensorium, and recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures. She was initially managed as eclampsia with suspected posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Owing to maternal instability, an emergency lower-segment caesarean section was performed. Persistent neurological impairment after delivery prompted neuroimaging. Computed tomography demonstrated a left frontal intracerebral haemorrhage, while magnetic resonance imaging revealed a haemorrhagic left frontal mass with surrounding oedema, midline shift, and PRES-like imaging features. Following urgent neurosurgical intervention, the patient underwent left frontal craniotomy and complete tumour excision. Histopathological examination confirmed a high-grade glioma. The patient recovered well postoperatively and was referred to the neuro-oncology team and subsequently underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The neonate was delivered at 25+6 weeks' gestation and died on day 2 of life despite neonatal intensive care. This case demonstrates that structural brain tumours may closely mimic eclampsia, even in the presence of severe hypertension and proteinuria. Persistent neurological abnormalities following standard treatment for eclampsia should prompt urgent neuroimaging to exclude underlying intracranial pathology. Early multidisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians, critical care specialists, radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neonatologists, and oncologists is essential to optimise maternal outcomes.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -