Abstract

A case is reported in which a frontal astrocytoma occurring in a lead worker was initially misdiagnosed as lead encephalopathy. The evidence in favour of lead poisoning as a secondary diagnosis is discussed and details given of the urinary lead excretion in response to intravenous EDTA. It was concluded that though excess lead absorption had occurred, the history and findings were not such as to have made a diagnosis of lead encephalopathy tenable.