Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis causing progressive polyneuropathies in a child

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis in a patient with a history of diffuse large B cell lymphoma

A man in his early 70s with a 4-year history of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was admitted to our hospital with diplopia and achromatopsia. Neurological examination revealed visual impairment, ocular motility disorder and diplopia on looking to the left. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid investigations showed no significant findings. MRI revealed diffusely thickened dura mater and contrast-enhanced structures in the left apical orbit, consistent with hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP). We performed an open dural biopsy to distinguish the diagnosis from lymphoma. The pathological diagnosis was idiopathic HP, and DLBCL recurrence was ruled out. Following methylprednisolone pulse and oral prednisolone therapy, his neurological abnormalities gradually receded. Open dural biopsy played an important role not only in diagnosing idiopathic HP but also in relieving the pressure on the optic nerve.

Difficulties of diagnosing idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis in children: Case report and literature review

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare inflammatory disorder characterised by local or diffuse thickening of the cranial and spinal dura mater. HP occurs owing to idiopathic or secondary causes, including autoimmune disease, infection, and trauma. HP has mainly been reported in adults, with few reported cases in children. We encountered an 11-year-old boy with idiopathic HP who presented with chronic inflammation and daily occipital headache. Gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helped us to diagnose him with HP. He was successfully treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine with no recurrence. We also conducted a literature review of childhood-onset HP and found only 16 cases, including our patient. Seven patients had idiopathic HP, and the remaining nine had secondary HP, including two with rheumatic disease. The most common clinical symptoms were headache (68.8%) and cranial nerve-related symptoms (68.8%). Inflammatory laboratory markers were elevated in 60% of patients with available data. Fifteen cases were diagnosed using Gd-enhanced MRI. The main initial treatment was steroids and/or immunosuppressants, to which 87.5% of patients responded. However, two patients with HP associated with trauma and neuroblastoma (12.5%) died, and seven patients (43.8%) had left cranial nerve-related sequelae. As the prognosis for childhood HP is poor, early diagnosis and treatment are essential. Children with headache, cranial nerve symptoms, and elevated inflammatory marker levels should be suspected of having HP and Gd-enhanced MRI should be considered.

Audiovestibular Symptoms in Patients With Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis: Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an infrequent inflammatory disease resulting in thickening and fibrosis of the dura mater. In most cases, the cause in unknown and is called idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP). Audiovestibular symptoms are infrequent and the pathogenesis is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review of cases with IHP and vestibular symptoms from 2000 to February 2020 was performed. PRISMA Checklist was followed and PubMED database, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched. We report a case of an adolescent with a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis in the context of IHP attended in our clinic.

RESULTS

We reviewed 5 articles related to IHP and vestibular disorders. A total of 7 cases (5 women and 2 men), with ages between 27 and 68 years with IHP were found. They all had audiovestibular symptoms. In contrast to our patient, uni or bilateral neurosensorial hearing loss was reported in all cases. Furthermore, there is no other case report published describing the association between IHP and vestibular neuritis. High dose steroids improved symptoms in 85.7% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular symptoms in IHP are uncommon and the pathogenesis is still debatable. Entrapment of nerves in the internal auditory canal and secondary neuronal damage could be suspected as the main cause of hearing and vestibular loss.

Audiovestibular symptoms in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis: Systematic literature review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an infrequent inflammatory disease resulting in thickening and fibrosis of the dura mater. In most cases, the cause in unknown and is called idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP). Audiovestibular symptoms are infrequent and the pathogenesis is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review of cases with IHP and vestibular symptoms from 2000 to February 2020 was performed. PRISMA Checklist was followed and PubMED database, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched. We report a case of an adolescent with a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis in the context of IHP attended in our clinic.

RESULTS

We reviewed 5 articles related to IHP and vestibular disorders. A total of 7 cases (5 women and 2 men), with ages between 27 and 68 years with IHP were found. They all had audiovestibular symptoms. In contrast to our patient, uni or bilateral neurosensorial hearing loss was reported in all cases. Furthermore, there is no other case report published describing the association between IHP and vestibular neuritis. High dose steroids improved symptoms in 85.7% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular symptoms in IHP are uncommon and the pathogenesis is still debatable. Entrapment of nerves in the internal auditory canal and secondary neuronal damage could be suspected as the main cause of hearing and vestibular loss.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis: Does Earlier Treatment Improve Outcome?

Background/goal: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by marked fibrous thickening of the cerebral and/or spinal dura mater. This condition has largely been reported in adults, but there are very few reports in children. Methods: We describe a 14-year-old boy with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis, who presented with deteriorating vision on a background of severe headache. We evaluated pediatric cases of hypertrophic pachymeningitis and compared treatments and their relation to outcomes. Results: There are only eleven pediatric cases of hypertrophic pachymeningitis reported in the literature. In the patients treated with steroids either at presentation or subsequent relapses, a good response was reported. In the cases with delayed initiation of steroid treatment, this was often related to an incomplete recovery. In our patient, this delay may have contributed to his poor visual outcome. Conclusions: Early initiation of steroid treatment in children with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis may improve outcomes.

Rapidly progressive fatal idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis with brainstem involvement in a child

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare disorder characterized by diffuse thickening of the dura mater with resultant neurologic deficits. HP develops secondary to various conditions or idiopathically usually in adults but rarely in children.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 3-year-old female child with idiopathic HP. Her HP involved the entire central nervous system with progression into the brainstem. The lesion responded poorly to pulsed steroids or any immunosuppressants. The brainstem lesion grew rapidly and formed various nodules that ultimately resulted in brain death. This is the first fatal case of HP in a child.

Diplopia With Dural Fibrotic Thickening

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare disorder of diffuse thickening of the cranial or spinal dura mater without an identifiable cause. Most common in adult males, idiopathic HP typically presents with headache with or without varied associated focal neurologic deficits and findings of dural enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging in a linear, nodular, or combined pattern. As it is felt to be an autoimmune disorder, treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is typically recommended, and without intervention, the course is usually progressive. The disease can commonly progress with a relapsing remitting course requiring other immune modulators such as methotrexate, azathioprine, or cyclophosphamide for control. Here, we describe a unique case of idiopathic HP as it presented in a pediatric patient and resolved without immunomodulatory therapy.

Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis Induced by Long-Term Administration of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs

Objective

To report a case of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (HCP) associated with the long-term administration of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Case summary

A 23-year-old man presented with recurrent headaches as the primary clinical manifestation. After the administration of the NSAIDs indomethacin and aceclofenac for 2 years, he developed signs of progressive cranial polyneuropathies (eg, II, III, V, VI, and VII palsy) and damage to the brainstem. Cranial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed curvilinear subdural enhancement and significant tentorium cerebelli and faix cerebri enhancements. Since antituberculosis treatment combined with corticosteroid therapy and analgesia with celecoxib for 40 days had not achieved satisfactory results, NSAIDs were discontinued and a single oral dose of a corticosteroid was given. No headaches were reported at a 6-month follow-up appointment. In addition, his cranial polyneuropathy improved significantly. Reexamination by contrast-enhanced MRI scan demonstrated that tentorial enhancement and thickening of the falx cerebri were markedly alleviated.

Discussion

No additional causes of HCP were found during systematic investigation in this patient. In addition to headache, cranial polyneuropathy and thickened cerebral dura mater appeared after administration of NSAIDs for 2 years. The symptoms that appeared during the NSAID therapy were remarkably alleviated 5 months after medication discontinuation. Adverse drug reaction (ADR) assessment revealed that long-term administration of NSAIDs may be associated with the occurrence and development of HCP.

Conclusions

Long-term administration of NSAIDs is a probable cause of HCP. Clinicians should be aware of this ADR and avoid prescribing NSAIDs for an extended period.

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare clinical entity characterized by diffuse or localized fibrous thickening of the dura mater. It is well known but rare especially in pediatric population disease of differing origins. The primary (idiopathic) form is diagnosed after excluding other possible etiologies. Similar results from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with hypertrophic pachymeningitis and meningiomas may make the diagnosis confusing. Additionally, making a proper diagnosis without histological sampling can be difficult in some cases.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present a case of an 18-year-old boy diagnosed with hypertrophic pachymeningitis in the area of the hypoglossal canal. The diagnosis was made after a 2-month history of hypoglossal nerve palsy and dysphagia preceded by a middle ear infection. The patient was treated surgically with suspicion of meningioma, but no evidence of a tumor was found during the operation. The postoperative period was uneventful. At the latest check-up, MRI revealed regression of all previously observed pathological changes.

[A case of bilateral ophthalmoplegia caused by focal idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis on the anterior cranial fossa]

A previously healthy 63-year-old man presented with a 2-weeks history of diplopia without headache. Neurological examination revealed total external ophthalmoplegia of the left eye and limitation of abduction of the right eye. Initial cranial MRI showed thickening and enhancement of the dura mater only on the anterior cranial fossa but unremarkable on the cavernous sinus. Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis was diagnosed in the absence of demonstrable underlying infective, neoplastic, or systemic autoimmune disease by his clinical findings, laboratory tests and radiological examinations. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated with methylprednisolone (1,000 mg/day for 3 days), followed by oral prednisolone and tapering off. Eye movements improved with treatment and completely recovered within 4 weeks after starting administration, and cranial MRI at the 15 days after starting treatment showed improvement. We suggest that his ophthalmoplegia was caused by the inflammation of dura on the cavernous sinus beyond the thickening lesion of cranial MRI. In a case of bilateral ophthalmoplegia with or without headache, it is required to examine the dural thickening and enhancement on the anterior cranial fossa by cranial MRI.

Pachymeningitis in a young child responded to antitubercular therapy: a case report

Pachymeningitis is a rare disease of diverse etiology mainly affecting the adult population. Only 4 pediatric cases have been reported till now. We report the youngest child with pachymeningitis from India. Our case responded very well to antitubercular therapy with near complete recovery. Antitubercular therapy can be considered in children from endemic countries with hypertrophic pachymeningitis before labeling their condition as idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis in a child with hydrocephalus

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare but increasingly recognized disorder characterized by diffuse thickening of the dura mater of unknown etiology. The inflammation usually involves the cranial or spinal dura mater, with resultant neurologic deficits. Although it is reported primarily in adults, there is one previous report describing the condition in a child. Described here is the case of a child who presented at the age of 3.5 years with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis involving the entire central nervous system, with poor response to steroids, cyclophosphamide, and intraventricular cytarabine.