Depression as Primary Symptom Presentation of Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case Series
Jordanne Kirschke1, Vanessa Kirschke3, Ian George2
1Rocky Vista University, 2Chair of Anatomical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, 3Austin Peay University
Objective:
The objective of this case series is to disclose the prevalence of misdiagnosed depression in patients who are in fact presenting with symptoms of an undiagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Background:
Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive form of an astrocytic brain tumor. Due to the accelerated development of this tumor, early diagnosis and intervention drastically improves the patient’s prognosis. Current clinical practice correlates the presence of a brain tumor with patient symptom presentation involving headaches, seizures, vision abnormalities, and acquired apraxia. Recent studies have shown that depression and general changes of personality are symptoms that correlate with the presence of a brain tumor, but few studies reflect the importance of how providers should be recognizing this form of presentation
Design/Methods:
For our study we compiled three separate and previously published case studies of individuals aged from 46-64 years old experiencing depression as their earliest presenting symptom of their GBM. Case reports of patients with a history of non-situational mental health disorders, anxiety as their primary presenting symptom of their GBM, or previous cancer diagnoses were excluded from the series.
Conclusions:
Analysis of homogenous findings within the cases provides further evidence of depression as a primary symptom of GBM and reflects a need to reform how physicians analyze this semblance of symptom presentation.