Introduction: Thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke is based on clinical assessment, blood tests, and computed tomography (CT) findings. The presence of early CT ischemic changes may help support therapeutic decision. Our aim is to call attention to a likely overlooked "stroke mimic," Gliomatosis Cerebri (GC).
Case series: Clinical and neuroimaging analysis of 3 patients with documented GC, whose acute clinical onset and CT data (lenticular and ribbon sign and a ipsilateral dot sign) were suggestive of ischemic stroke.
Conclusion: Noncerebrovascular conditions may present with both acute onset and false CT signs of early ischemic stroke. Although rare, GC needs to be considered among the possible "stroke mimics" to avoid inappropriate thrombolytic therapy.