Which finding during a neurological examination may indicate a mass lesion in the brain?

Visual field loss can indicate a mass lesion in the brain due to the potential impact on areas of the brain that are responsible for visual processing and the pathways conveying visual information. A mass lesion, such as a tumor or swelling, may compress or invade structures like the optic nerve or the occipital lobe, leading to deficits in peripheral vision or specific visual fields.

In contrast, normal reflexes, intact cranial nerve function, and the absence of cognitive impairment do not typically suggest the presence of a mass lesion. These findings indicate that the neurological system is functioning adequately, which makes them less indicative of significant lesions that would ordinarily disrupt these functions. Thus, visual field loss stands out as a specific indicator that could be linked to an underlying mass effect within the brain.