"Idiopathic" cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis responsive to antituberculous therapy: case report

A Rare Diagnosis of Aseptic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis: A Case of Mycobacterial Tuberculosis Origin

Tubercular meningitis is a rare yet devastating type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) posing great diagnostic challenges due to the nonspecific clinical presentation of the patients. Here, we present a rare diagnosis of hypertrophic pachymeningitis due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A 36-year-old male presented with a history of headaches and giddiness for one month. Neurological examination revealed hypo-reflexive triceps and ankle reflexes. Routine blood tests and autoimmune workup were normal. Brain MRI with contrast revealed diffuse dural thickening, focal leptomeningeal enhancement in the right temporal sulci, and enhancement in both the frontal and parietal convexity and the falx cerebri and along the tentorium cerebelli. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed elevated proteins, suggestive of aseptic meningitis. Meningeal biopsy revealed a chronic ill-formed granulomatous inflammatory lesion with occasional acid-fast bacilli, consistent with tubercular pachymeningitis. The patient was administered intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone for five days, following which the symptoms subsided. He was advised tablet prednisolone on discharge, and immunomodulation with rituximab was recommended as outpatient treatment. Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare diagnosis characterized by the inflammation and fibrosis of the dura matter due to a diverse etiology. Tubercular etiology must be considered when the routine laboratory tests are negative, and the diagnosis should be confirmed by meningeal biopsy. The treatment of the underlying cause and corticosteroids remain the mainstay management of hypertrophic pachymeningitis. Hence, mycobacterial tuberculosis should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis while evaluating hypertrophic pachymeningitis, especially when the routine laboratory tests and immunological workup are negative.

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.

Tuberculous Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis

Tuberculous pachymeningitis is a rare disease that should be suspected in patients with chronic headaches, focal neurological signs, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of dural thickening. We report the case of a 62-year-old male who presented with chronic headaches for over a year, progressive right-sided vision and hearing loss for six months, and progressive dysphagia for a month. On investigation, MRI showed dural thickening, cerebrospinal fluid showed lymphocytic pleocytosis with high protein and normal glucose levels, and biopsy of the dural matter showed necrotizing granulomas with Langhans giant cells. The patient responded well to antitubercular treatment and steroids. Follow-up MRI 24 months later showed almost complete resolution of meningeal enhancement. Though tuberculosis is an uncommon cause of pachymeningitis, it should be considered, as it responds well to treatment.

Intramedullary Conus Medullaris Tuberculoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Intramedullary tuberculoma (IMT) of the conus medullaris is extremely rare. We present a case of intramedullary conus medullaris tuberculoma in which the diagnosis was based on there being very high levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and improvement with antituberculous therapy. A 78-year-old man presented after having had a dull ache in both thighs and progressive paraparesis. The patient’s medical history included diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which had undergone remission due to chemotherapy two years earlier, and long-term, well-controlled diabetes. A chest X-ray showed no evidence of tuberculosis. The results of CSF analysis were compatible with Froin’s syndrome. An initial diagnosis was made of an intramedullary tumor of the conus medullaris, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A myelotomy and multiple punch out biopsy were performed, and histopathology of the tissues revealed mild reactive gliosis. Due to the patient having high levels of CSF-ADA, IMT of the conus medullaris was suspected. The patient was treated with an 18-month course of antituberculous therapy. The dull ache gradually disappeared, and motor power improved slightly. A follow-up MRI of the lumbosacral (LS) spine revealed that the lesion had completely disappeared. Intramedullary tuberculoma of the conus medullaris should be considered in patients with underlying malignancy and no symptoms of systemic tuberculosis. CSF adenosine deaminase levels can be helpful in determining the presence of central nervous system tuberculosis when other systemic signs of disease are lacking.

Tuberculous Pachymeningitis Presenting as a Diffused Dural Thickening in a Patient with Chronic Headache and Recurrent Neurological Abnormalities for More than a Decade: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Background

Tuberculous pachymeningitis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis usually suspected from the detection of thickening of the dura in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Progressive nature of the disease can lead to chronic headache with focal neurological signs due to compression from the thickened dura.

Case Report

We report a 40-year-old female who presented with chronic headache over a decade associated with recurrent neurological abnormalities including optic neuritis, hemisensory loss, migraine, facial nerve palsy, and recurrent vertigo. Although there was an initial perceived response to steroids, the patient had a subsequent progressive course. On investigations, she was found to have a diffused dural thickening on contrast MRI with a strongly positive Mantoux test with caseating necrotizing granulomatous inflammation on dural histology. With initiation of antituberculous medication with steroids, the patient markedly improved, and the medication for tuberculosis was continued for a year with good response.

Conclusion

Primary tuberculous pachymeningitis should be suspected in a patient complaining of prolonged headache with focal neurological signs when MRI evidence of dural thickening is detected, and another focus of tuberculosis was not found. Prompt suspicion with image-guided dural biopsy for histology would help to confirm the diagnosis.

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.

Neurological involvement of IgG4-related disease: description of a case and review of the literature

IgG4-related disease is a recently discovered pathological entity, histologically characterised by fibrosis and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration. This condition may virtually involve every site of the organism, with a various range of clinical presentations. The most commonly affected organ is the pancreatic gland, but it can also involve the biliary tract, salivary and lacrimal glands, kidneys, orbital tissues, lymph nodes, lungs and many others. More recently, IgG4-related disease has been demonstrated to involve, in rare cases, also the central nervous system, with a pattern mainly characterised by hypertrophic pachymeningitis. In this paper we evaluated the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of the IgG4-related disease in the central nervous system, reporting a case of brain and spinal cord involvement. In our case, in fact, a 62-year-old man complaining of paresthesia, burning dysesthesia and severe hyposthenia in the lower limbs presented with inflammatory pseudotumour with orbital involvement and focal dural and spinal root thickening.

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 with sarcoidosis: a rare cause of craniocervical compression

We describe a case of a 58-year-old woman with a suspected dural tumour. She presented with progressive pyramidal weakness. MRI confirmed compression of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord at the level of C1-3. The localised dural mass lesion homogenously enhanced on T1 MRI and was considered most likely to be a meningioma. Incidentally, CT scan of the chest revealed peribronchial soft tissue thickening, suggestive of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Owing to the progressive nature of her weakness, she had a posterior occipitocervical decompression with a C1-3 laminectomy and resection of the thickened dura. Histology showed densely collagenous tissue with scanty psammoma bodies and multinucleate giant cells, consistent with hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP)-a rare, chronic inflammatory condition, characterised by thickening and fibrosis of the dura. This case demonstrates that masses in the craniocervical junction can be varied in pathology and when there is evidence of systemic inflammation, HP should be considered.

Infiltrative mass of the skull base and nasopharynx: A diagnostic conundrum

Inflammatory skull base masses are enigmatic and often behaviourally unpredictable. We present a case of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP) forming a central skull base mass to illustrate the process required when one investigates such skull base lesions. This is the first description of mass forming or tumefactive IHP extending into the nasopharynx. A 32-year old woman presented with frontal headaches and nasal discharge. She then deteriorated and was admitted with worsening headaches, serosanguinous nasal discharge and bilateral ophthalmoplegia. Multimodality imaging confirmed a destructive central skull base soft tissue mass involving the posterior clivus, floor of sphenoid sinus, nasopharynx and extending into both cavernous sinuses. Unfortunately, the patient continued to deteriorate despite treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Cerebrospinal fluid, blood tests and transnasal biopsies for histology and microbiology did not reveal a diagnosis. Further neuroimaging revealed extension of the mass. Early corticosteroid treatment demonstrated radical improvement although an initial reducing regime resulted in significant rebound deterioration. She was stable on discharge with slowly reducing low dose oral prednisolone and azathioprine. We discuss the complexity of this case paying special attention to the process followed in order to arrive at a diagnosis of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis based on both the clinical progression and the detailed analysis of serial skull base imaging. Knowledge of the potential underlying aetiologies, characteristic radiological features, common pathogens and the impact on blood serology can narrow the potential differentials and may avoid the morbidity associated with extensive resective procedures.

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Timely thorough investigation is critical to reduce the risk of irreversible damage.

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Prompt biopsy is essential to exclude both neoplasia and inflammatory conditions.

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Early corticosteroid administration is necessary to limit local infiltration.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Spinal Pachymeningitis

A 63-year-old man revealed a four-month history of muscle weakness of the lower limbs, hypoesthesia of the L5 and S1 area and ischuria. On MRI, the spinal cord was compressed by an encircled mass, which showed hypointensity on T1- and T2-weighted images with gadolinium enhancement at the Th11 to Th12 vertebra. Because of the rapid progression of myelopathy, posterior decompression was performed and idiopathic hypertrophic spinal pachymeningitis (HSP) was finally diagnosed. The patient's neurological signs markedly improved with postoperative corticosteroid treatment. Idiopathic HSP is a clinical emergency and early surgical intervention is essential to prevent irreversible damage to the nervous system.

Immunoglobulin g4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis with skull involvement

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis, defined as focally or diffusely thickened dura mater and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with increased IgG4 bearing plasma cells, is a rare disease. Moreover, cases involving bone are even rarer. In this report, the authors describe a case of IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis involving the skull in a 65-year-old man presenting with generalized tonic seizures. There is a 2.4 cm diameter extra-axial mass at the vertex of the left frontal convexity and thickened dura mater with contrast enhancement on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In addition, the skull adjacent to the mass was focally enhanced. He underwent surgical resection of the enhanced mass and skull. Histopathological findings revealed chronic inflammation with fibrosis, and idiopathic hypertrophic intracranial pachymeningitis was considered. However, eight months after surgery, partial seizures developed and brain MR imaging revealed a recurrence adjacent to the previous mass. We decided to perform additional immunohistochemical staining of the previous specimen, instead of a re-excision. Immunohistochemical staining showed markedly increased IgG4 (+) plasma cells. Consequently, IgG4-related hypertrophic meningitis was confirmed. Since then, steroids and immunosuppressant medications were started. Follow-up MR imaging at 3 months after medication initiation demonstrated complete remission. In conclusion, IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis.

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.

Arachnoid involved in idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shows inflammatory changes in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP), which is a rare disorder. However, systemic CSF research including immunoglobulins in patients with IHP are substantially lacking. In the study, clinical, laboratory, neuroradiologic and therapeutic data from 9 patients with IHP were retrospectively studied, and CSF changes were analyzed. Intracranial pressure was elevated in 4 patients. Protein levels in CSF were elevated in 5 patients (< 1g/L). IgA was elevated in 7 patients (> 0.5mg/dL), IgG was elevated in 8 patients (> 3.4 mg/dL) and IgM was elevated in 6 patients (>0.13 mg/dL) with IHP. CSF immunoglobulins, including IgA, IgG and IgM, were significantly elevated compared with levels in the control (P = 0.021, 0.018, 0.019). There were no linear correlations between IgG, IgM and protein in CSF, but there was a linear correlation between IgA and protein. In conclusion, CSF in IHP shows inflammatory changes, and protein levels are low to moderately elevated. CSF immunoglobulins, including IgA, IgG and IgM, also increased. The arachnoid is involved in IHP, a proportion of immunoglobulins may originate from the blood because of damage to the blood-CSF barrier at the arachnoid. Other intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins may be a secondary change due to alteration in the CSF's content to stabilize the internal environment or may be secreted by activated immune memory cells in the brain, which need further research.

Cranio cervical tuberculous hypertrophic pachymeningitis

Background:

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a unique clinical entity characterized by fibrosis and thickening of dura mater resulting in neurological dysfunction. It could be idiopathic or due to variety of inflammatory and infectious conditions. Tuberculous hypertrophic pachymeningitis involving cranio cervical region is rarely reported.

Case Description:

A 50-year-old female presented with history of progressive quadriparesis and stiffness of neck for 2 years, dysphagia to liquid for past 3 months. Her condition rapidly deteriorated when another physician prescribed her corticosteroid. Physical examination revealed high cervical compressive myelo-radiculopathy with lower cranial nerve palsy and neck rigidity. Series of serum analysis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study and contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinched the diagnosis. She improved on antitubercular treatment.

Conclusion:

In case of multilevel cervical compressive myelo-radiculopathy with lower cranial involvement, possibility of hypertrophic pachymeningitis should be kept in mind. Before diagnosing it as idiopathic, infectious causes should be excluded otherwise prescription of corticosteroid will flare up the disease process.

[A case of isolated mycobacterial focal meningitis diagnosed on brain and meningeal biopsy]

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of convulsions that developed after a 1-month history of progressive right-leg palsy. MRI showed thickening of the meninges with gadolinium enhancement in the left parietal lobe and it revealed pia-subarachnoid space pattern. A lumbar puncture was performed, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed no abnormality. Her serum adenosine deaminase level was elevated (28.7 IU/l). The results of serum cultures were normal. To differentially diagnose collagen disease, infection, malignancy, and inflammation of uncommon causes, we conducted brain and meningeal biopsies on the 15th hospital day. Histopathological examination of the brain tissue showed mainly necrosis and inflammation. There was severe pachymeningeal thickening without necrosis. Although it was difficult to reach a definitive diagnosis, a tissue sample taken from under the leptomeninges tested positive for mycobacterium on Ziehl-Neelsen staining. The results of polymerase chain reaction for mycobacterium were negative in the meningeal tissue. The patient received anti-tuberculous drugs, anti-nontuberculous mycobacteriosis drugs, and corticosteroids to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterium. After starting treatment, the findings on magnetic resonance imaging improved dramatically, and no convulsions occurred during hospitalization. She was discharged on the 153rd hospital day without any neurological deficit. Because previous studies have reported that isolated mycobacterium meningitis is a diagnostically challenging condition, brain and meningeal biopsies should be considered in patients with gadolinium enhancement in the meninges.

[Chronic hypertrophic pachymeningitis: 2 clinical cases are presented]

Chronic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an inflammatory process of unknown aetiology characterised by a thickening of the dura mater causing pseudotumoural growth. Clinical manifestations are usually secondary to compression of adjacent neurological structures but may be also secondary to inflammatory processes. Diagnosis is mainly obtained by excluding infectious, neoplastic and autoimmune causes. Nowadays, steroid treatment is the most commonly used therapy. Two clinical cases of hypertrophic pachymeningitis are presented which were treated by surgery without any additional treatment and with good clinical and radiological development.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis: Three biopsy-proven cases including one case with abdominal pseudotumor and review of the literature

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a rare disorder of diverse etiology. It presents with headaches, cranial neuropathies and ataxia occurring alone or in combination. Dural biopsy is essential to exclude secondary causes of pachymeningitis. There is paucity of data on biopsied cases of HP. We report three biopsy-proven cases of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. All our patients had headaches and multiple cranial neuropathies; ataxia was seen in one patient. One patient had recurrent anterior and posterior cranial neuropathies, while one each had recurrent anterior and posterior cranial neuropathies. Two patients had profound irreversible mono-ocular visual loss. All of them showed prominent pachymeningeal thickening on imaging. Infarcts were seen in one patient, which have rarely been documented. All patients showed biopsy evidence of meningeal thickening and nonspecific chronic inflammation of the dura. The disease may have a remitting and relapsing course, and usually responds to steroids. Clinical improvement was excellent in two patients and modest in one on steroid therapy. All our patients required azathioprine during the course of therapy. Early institution and long-term maintenance of steroid therapy prevents neurologic sequelae. Occurrence of abdominal inflammatory pseudotumor in a patient of HP possibly as part of multifocal fibrosclerosis has not been described earlier.

Long-term outcome of idiopathic hypertrophic thoracic pachymeningitis

Idiopathic hypertrophic spinal pachymeningitis (IHSP) is a comparatively rare disease characterized by hypertrophic inflammation of the dura mater and clinical symptoms that progress from local pain to myelopathy. We report a case of IHSP followed up for 20 years in a 46-year-old man. Expansive laminoplasty was performed in 1991, and this case has been previously reported by a co-author. After 17 years, the patient's gait disturbance returned. Physical examination and imaging confirmed IHSP that had developed into syringomyelia at the T2-L1 conus level. This case was diagnosed as adhesive spinal arachnoiditis due to pachymeningitis caused by syringomyelia. T1-T4 laminectomy, a syringo-subarachnoid shunt (S-S shunt), and L2-L3 laminectomy were performed. The patient again developed dysesthesia and gait disturbance 3 years after the second operation. Most reports of IHSP have limited their focus to short-term follow-up after initial treatment with no long-term results. At present, there are only five reports referring to long-term results of greater than 5 years. All but one case needed additional surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which syringomyelia occurred in a patient with IHSP. It is important to note that syringomyelia may be a cause of symptom recrudescence during long-term follow-up in IHSP patients.

[Tuberculous cranial pachymeningitis presenting with long-standing diffuse brain dysfunction]

We report a 59-year-old immunocompetent man presenting with slowly progressive gait unsteadiness, dysarthria, and clumsiness in writing over 6 months. There were bilateral pyramidal signs, pseudobulbar palsy, and attention deficits. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed mild mononuclear pleocytosis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed pachymeningeal pattern of contrast enhancement beneath the calvarium and the posterior cranial fossa. Interferon-gamma release assay in whole blood after stimulation by specific tuberculosis antigens was positive and repeat polymerase chain reaction assay detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome in the cerebrospinal fluid. After combination therapy with anti-tuberculous agents and corticosteroids, the patient's pachymeningitis regressed. Tuberculous cranial pachymeningitis may present with chronic diffuse brain dysfunction without headache, fever, or cranial nerve dysfunction.

A multi-centre case series investigating the aetiology of hypertrophic pachymeningitis with orbital inflammation

INTRODUCTION

To describe our attempt in establishing a definitive diagnosis in patients with hypertrophic pachymeningitis in combination with orbital inflammatory disease and report on the outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective case series of all patients presenting with hypertrophic pachymeningitis in association with orbital inflammation in 4 centres. Ophthalmic and neurological examination data, laboratory data, histology data, treatment plans and clinical outcome data were recorded. Patients underwent orbital/brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Six patients were identified; the median age was 46.5 years. Headache was the commonest presenting symptom, followed by diplopia and reduced visual acuity. Three patients underwent orbital biopsy, 1 patient underwent dura mater biopsy, 1 patient underwent both and 1 patient underwent nasal biopsy. Four patients were diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis and 2 patients with tuberculosis. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated in 4 patients, with steroid-sparing drugs added later. Two patients received anti-tuberculosis treatment and 1 patient was commenced on pulsed cyclophosphamide. On follow-up, 1 patient required an exenteration for a painful blind eye and 1 patient's visual acuity remained at no perception to light. One patient had complete resolution of symptoms on treatment, 1 patient had persistent reduced visual acuity and 1 patient was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

We postulate that the combination of orbital inflammation and pachymeningitis is strongly suggestive of Wegener granulomatosis, although it may take a number of years to confirm. Tuberculosis should also be considered.

[Recurrent idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis after surgery of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma: a case report]

A 70-year-old woman visited our hospital because of a chronic headache four years ago. MRI demonstrated almost symmetrically thickened dura mater in the frontal and parietal regions. She was diagnosed with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis and received corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroid therapy improved her clinical symptoms and thickening of the dura mater. She remained free of neurological symptoms after prednisolone was tapered to 5 mg/day. However, three years ago, she developed ear pain, otorrhea and hearing loss on the left side. She was diagnosed as having otitis media with cholesteatoma last year, and underwent mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty on the left side three months ago. After surgery, she recovered from the ear symptoms, but noticed a headache on the left side. Three months after the surgery, MRI demonstrated the recurrence of hypertrophic pachymeningitis in the frontal and parietal regions, particularly on the left side. Corticosteroid therapy again improved the headache and thickening of the dura mater. The finding that the patient recovered after corticosteroid therapy alone suggests that non-infectious inflammation played a major role in the pathogenesis. Chronic inflammation associated with otitis media with cholesteatoma or surgical invasiveness might induce the recurrence of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Neurosarcoidosis with necrotising sarcoid granulomatosis mimicking meningiomatosis cerebri: case report and literature search

A 52-year-old woman presented with headaches, difficulty with word finding and left eye blindness. MRI showed enhancing frontal dural-based masses suggestive of meningiomatosis. Biopsy and debulking revealed necrotising granulomas, without discernible micro-organisms or neoplasia; a thorough clinical work-up was negative for infection and vasculitis. A CT scan showed mild bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, a tiny pulmonary nodule and cirrhotic liver. Her subsequent alteration of mental status was attributed to hepatic encephalopathy based upon elevated aminotransferase and ammonia levels, biopsy evidence of hepatoportal sclerosis with rare granulomas and response to lactulose. A diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis of the necrotising sarcoid granulomatosis variant (NS-NSG) with atypical systemic involvement was made. This is the fifth case report of NS-NSG clinically mimicking a neoplasm and histologically mimicking a mycobacterial infection. NS-NSG can have an atypical clinical picture including intracranial masses; a thorough work-up to exclude infectious and other non-infectious aetiologies is a prerequisite to its diagnosis.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis causing progressive polyneuropathies in a child

We describe the clinical manifestations, radiological features and response to therapy of a 10-year-old child with idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis, a rare condition with potentially severe disabling neurological consequences. The child presented with progressive cranial polyneuropathies secondary to dural compression of the neural and vascular structures within the cavernous sinus. Corticosteroids and methotrexate proved effective in inducing near complete and sustained remission of the condition. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of idiopathic hypertrophy cranial pachymeningitis in a child. The experience with oral methotrexate to treat this entity in a child has also never been reported. Idiopathic cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis should be considered in children presenting with a progressive cranial polyneuropathies.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis treated by oral methotrexate: a case report and review of literature

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) is a rare clinical entity, characterized by a chronic inflammation causing thickening of the dura. Adequate therapeutic management is still a matter of debate. We present a patient with an IHCP, non-responsive to corticotherapy. Oral methotrexate was introduced (12.5 mg weekly) and total remission was observed after 6 weeks, both clinically and after neuro-imaging. We conclude that methotrexate can be effective and a therapeutical option in patients with IHCP who are resistant to corticotherapy or present major side-effects of chronic corticosteroids use.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis resulting in delayed panhypopituitarism

OBJECTIVE

To describe an adult man with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHPM) that progressed to involve the pituitary gland and caused hypopituitarism 6 years after the onset of the first symptom.

METHODS

We describe the slow 6-year progression of IHPM in a man being treated with steroids, radiation, and antineoplastic medications and present clinical, pathologic, and imaging data. The pertinent literature is also reviewed.

RESULTS

A 35-year-old man who presented with headaches, pain, and sensory loss on the right side of his face had thickened, inflamed dura without granulomas. Initially, the right middle fossa, the lateral wall of the right cavernous sinus, and the tentorium were involved. Results from a dural biopsy specimen were consistent with IHPM. His symptoms were only partially controlled with continuous high-dose steroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and radiation therapy. IHPM was diagnosed based on findings from an open brain biopsy. Other pathologic causes of inflammatory dural thickening were excluded. Six years after the onset of the first clinical manifestation of IHPM, the patient developed panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the inflammatory process had invaded the pituitary gland. IHPM was confirmed by findings from transsphenoidal biopsy.

CONCLUSION

IHPM is a rare disorder characterized by an unexplained inflammatory thickening of the dura at the skull base. The usual clinical symptoms are intractable headache and cranial nerve palsies. Physicians must be aware that IHPM can be slowly progressive despite attempted treatment, and that the disease process can invade the sella with dysfunction of both the anterior and the posterior pituitary gland.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis Mimicking Lymphoplasmacyte-Rich Meningioma

A 28-year-old woman with a 6-year history of optic neuropathy and 8 years of hearing loss had enhancing dural lesions around the brain stem and in both internal auditory canals on MRI. Histopathology from cranial procedures performed in 1990 and 1993 was originally interpreted as inflammatory meningioma, now known as lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma (LRM). Because the clinical course was more consistent with a relapsing process, the original surgical specimens were restudied with additional immunocytochemical stains. The review led to a pathologic diagnosis of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP). IHP and LRM can be confused on both imaging and histopathologic grounds.

Mastoiditis complicated with Gradenigo syndrome and a hypertrophic pachymeningitis with consequent communicating hydrocephalus

We present the clinical, radiological and pathological features of a case of a cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis that developed in the course of mastoiditis and petrous apex inflammation and responded to immunosuppressive therapy only. Documented by the development of clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid changes, histopathology findings, by otosurgical intervention and finally by the insertion of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, the case illustrates a gradual development of pachymeningitis with consequent hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension. We consider this disease development an example of immune-induced proliferative fibrotic changes in meninges.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis successfully treated with weekly subcutaneous methotrexate

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis is a very infrequent disorder. Adequate management is still a matter of debate. We describe the use of low-dose pulse methotrexate in treating a 63-year-old woman with idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. A weekly scheme with subcutaneous methotrexate was tried. Clinical improvement occurred in one week. Total remission of the clinical and neuro-imaging abnormalities was evident 6 months later, with minimal side effects. The patient is in complete remission after one year of follow-up without treatment. Hence, low-dose weekly subcutaneous methotrexate may be safe and effective in inducing complete and sustained remission of this condition. The experience with subcutaneous methotrexate to treat this entity has never been reported.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis masquerading as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis is a rare condition. A case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis presenting as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is being reported. The importance of neuroimaging in patients with suspected Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is discussed. Tolosa-Hunt syndrome might represent a focal manifestation of Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. Future studies are necessary to further clarify the relationship between these two conditions.

Paralysies oculomotrices douloureuses : une approche diagnostique

We review the question of diagnosis of painful and relatively isolated ophthalmoplegia due to diseases affecting the ocular motor nerves. For each clinical setting, we provide an overview of the main causes and a practical way to approach the diagnosis. As vascular malformations should always be kept in mind in patients with painful ophthalmoplegia, emergency neuroradiological investigations may be needed. However, the etiological scope is wide and the rationale for choosing the more appropriate examination and its optimal timing depends exclusively on the clinical evaluation. Despite advances in investigation techniques, diagnosis may remain difficult or even unresolved in a certain number of patients. We discuss successively paralysis of the third, sixth and fourth nerve, paralysis of several ocular motor nerves, recurrent ophthalmoplegia and ischaemic ocular motor palsies, which are the most frequent cause.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis with perifocal brain edema

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) consists of meningeal thickening due to chronic inflammation for which no cause such as infection, specific granulomatous disease, or malignancy is demonstrable. We present a case of IHCP with perifocal brain edema suggesting mass lesion with its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologic findings. A 36-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in August 2001 with a complaint of motor weakness in her left leg for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium revealed enhancement of the thickened dura mater and perifocal edema in the right frontoparietal region suggesting a mass lesion. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed a dense fibrous cellular tissue. There was no obvious inflammatory infiltrate but in some areas between fibrous bundles one or two lymphocytes were detected. According to our knowledge, our patient is the second report in the literature of IHCP with focal edema causing a mass effect.

Hypertrophic chronic pachymeningitis associated with chronic otitis media and mastoiditis

We describe the case history of a 70-year-old female patient presenting with bilateral hearing disturbance, facial paralysis, and vertigo. Radiological tests of temporal bone revealed soft tissue in the mastoid and tympanic cavities, and T1 weighted MRI revealed prominent Gd enhancement of the middle skull basal meninges. Middle ear inflammation appeared to induce pachymeningitis and to exacerbate associated symptoms, leading to a decline in the patient's overall condition. Bilateral mastoidectomies were effective in improving her general condition. Her hearing improved only on the right side because ossiculoplasty was performed only on that side. Her facial movement progressively improved and pachymeningitis diminished over time. We speculate that removal of the infectious granulation within the middle ears and mastoids ameliorated the acute inflammation. The etiology remains unknown in this case.

Headache Profile in Patients With Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) is an uncommon disorder due to localized or diffuse thickening of the dura mater. While headache is the most common manifestation, the clinical characteristics of the headache in IHCP have not been well characterized.

METHODS

From 1996 to 2002, 6 consecutive patients with IHCP presenting with headache were reviewed (3 women, 3 men; mean age: 49 years). Diagnosis was based on characteristic neuroimaging findings and the exclusion of secondary causes of cranial pachymeningitis. This study reported the headache characteristics, neuroimaging features, and longitudinal follow-up.

RESULTS

Chronic daily headache, especially chronic migraine, was the most common headache pattern observed (4/6 patients). Lateralization of headache location appeared to correlate with the distribution of the hypertrophied dural lesions. Diagnostic delay was due to failure to evaluate with gadolinium-enhanced MRI. After treatment, headache (5/6, 83%) and neurologic deficits (2/3, 67%) improved in most patients; however, follow-up MRIs (n = 5) showed deterioration in 3 patients.

CONCLUSION

The headache of IHCP is typically a chronic daily headache, often resembling chronic migraine. Correspondingly, IHCP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory chronic daily headache, with or without associated cranial neuropathy or other associated neurologic deficits. The typical imaging finding on gadolinium-enhanced MRI is localized or diffuse pachymeningitis and failure to order a gadolinium-enhanced MRI is the primary reason for delayed diagnosis. Despite symptomatic improvement on longitudinal follow-up, the MRI abnormalities may not improve in parallel with the clinical symptoms.

Chronic Pachymeningitis Presenting as Asymmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to characterize the auditory dysfunction associated with chronic pachymeningitis (inflammation of the dura mater).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

We conducted a university-based retrospective review.

RESULTS

Three patients were identified who were diagnosed with chronic pachymeningitis after being referred for asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss. All patients were found to have other neurologic symptoms and signs during careful neurotologic evaluation. Two varieties of chronic pachymeningitis exist: a hypertrophic mass lesion and a linear dural thickening. Although the hypertrophic variety could be easily detectable by noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the linear form is only visible with the use of gadolinium enhancement.

CONCLUSION

Chronic pachymeningitis is a rare form of sensorineural hearing loss that could portend an underlying disease of greater concern. Extensive evaluation is needed to exclude identifiable causes of chronic pachymeningitis, including infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases.

SIGNIFICANCE

The clinician should be aware that the evaluation of a patient with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss involves more than simply ruling out an acoustic neuroma. Fast-spin echo MRI techniques without the use of gadolinium contrast could miss a number of potentially treatable diseases such as chronic pachymeningitis. Patients with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss should be carefully evaluated for other neurologic findings, and imaging with enhanced MRI is recommended.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis: two case reports and review of the literature

In 1949, Naffziger et al. first described idiopathic intracranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IIHP) as an aseptic, diffuse inflammatory disease that causes thickening of the dura mater and often headache and progressive multiple nerve palsies due to fibrous entrapment or ischemic damage of neurovascular structures. Pachymeningeal thickening can be diffuse or nodular. We report two cases of IIHP; one was affected by diffuse IIHP, while the other presented focal IIHP mimicking a convexity meningioma. We examine the differential diagnosis between IIHP and other known causes of hypertrophic pachymeningitis. We also discuss the clinical bases of treatment.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis Associated With Total Occlusion of the Dural Sinuses-Case Report-

A 44-year-old man presented with a rare case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis manifesting as generalized seizure. Neuroimaging and pathological examinations showed the typical features of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. Tuberculosis was a possible cause based on the positive purified protein-derived skin test, but the origin of the disease was not confirmed by further examinations. Cerebral angiography showed total occlusion of the dural sinuses with development of the emissary veins. Histological examination of the dura showed thickening of the fibrous tissue with rare inflammatory cells, suggestive of the extremely long duration of the disease. The diagnosis was idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis, but was treated only with anticonvulsants. The disease did not progress during follow up of 3 years. Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis may have various causes related to unusual forms of infectious or autoimmune disorders.

[Neuroradiologic manifestations of central nervous system tuberculosis in 122 adults]

PURPOSE

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis remains a public health problem, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study is to characterize neuroradiologic findings of various intracranial lesions.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data of 122 patients with CNS tuberculosis, without immunosuppression. CT scan was performed in all patients, whereas 17 patients had CT scan and MRI.

RESULTS

We included 74 women (61%) and 48 men (39%) with a mean age of 37 years (17 -88y). 18 patients (14,7%) had a history of tuberculosis. Tuberculous meningitis was the most frequent clinical presentation (119 cases). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in cerebrospinal fluid of 18 patients (15%). Several types of lesions were identified : hydrocephalus (35 cases), tuberculomas (29 cases), leptomeningitis (26 cases), infarction (15 cases), abcesses (2 cases). Hydrocephalus was associated to other lesions in 26 cases. Communication hydrocephalus was present in 28 cases. Multiple tuberculomas were seen in 23 cases (80%), with miliary aspects in some cases. In 3 cases, tuberculoma was present without meningitis. Patients with leptomeningitis showed thick meningeal contrast enhancement involving all basal cisterns. Infarction resulted from arterial englobement or embols, and involved the area of middle cerebral artery (12 cases).

CONCLUSION

Central nervous system tuberculosis has different appearences, mostly hydrocephalus and tuberculomas. MR with contrast is necessary for diagnosis and for follow-up during treatment.

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis associated with Sweet's Syndrome

A case of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis associated with Sweet's Syndrome is presented. Both entities have been described in association with several other chronic systemic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune conditions. To our knowledge the coexistence between Sweet's Syndrome and hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis has not been reported up to date. We suggest a possible autoimmune or dysimmune mechanism in the pathogenesis of these two entities.