Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis Associated With Intermediate Uveitis

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.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis with Scleritis and Optic Disc Involvement: a Case Report and Literature Review

This report describes a case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) with scleritis and optic disc involvement. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with chief complaints of fever, headache, binocular pain, and redness. Biochemical and immunological indicators, cranial magnetic resonance imaging, and relevant ophthalmological examinations were employed for evaluation. Infectious and neoplastic causes were excluded. Typical meningeal thickening and enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging revealed IHCP. Diffuse hyperaemia and oedema of the conjunctiva and the T-shape sign on the B-scan suggested anterior and posterior scleritis, respectively. Abnormalities in fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, and visual field examination suggested optic disc involvement. After anti-infection and steroid therapy, the patient's temperature returned to normal and the symptoms of headache, binocular pain, and redness improved. Neurologists and ophthalmologists should consider the combination of IHCP with scleritis in their differential diagnosis when patients complain of headache accompanied by ocular pain and redness.

A Rare Ocular Manifestation of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Cranial Pachymeningitis

Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis (IHCP) is a rare form of thickening of the dura mater. There are limited reports on the ocular manifestation of IHCP and its treatment. Up to our knowledge, there is no report on bilateral superior ophthalmic veins (SOV) dilatation with IHCP and there are only a few reports on anterior scleritis with IHCP. We report a 62-year-old gentleman with underlying hypertension and chronic headache who presented with fever, headache, and unresolving both eyes redness as manifestations of bilateral anterior scleritis, anterior uveitis, secondary glaucoma, and multiple cranial nerve palsies. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed global thickening and enhancement of the pachymeninges with bilateral SOV dilatations. The diagnosis of IHCP was made after ruling out infective and autoimmune causes. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone, oral azathioprine, topical timolol maleate, topical dexamethasone, and topical moxifloxacin. The patient was successfully treated and was stable throughout two years review. In conclusion, unresolved red eyes with headaches can be an early presentation of IHCP. Pathophysiology and treatment of the ocular manifestations and IHCP were discussed.

Optic Neuropathy with Headache and Palpable Temporal Arteries Due to Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis Rather than Giant Cell Arteritis

Purpose: To report a case of optic neuropathy diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasonography and Gadolinium-enhanced cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Case report: A 79-year-old woman presented with headache and vision loss in her left eye. Although her bilateral temporal arteries were palpable and rope-like, color Doppler ultrasonography showed normal flow in both arteries with no signs of arteritis. MRI revealed increased enhancement of the pachymeninges enveloping both cerebral hemispheres, suggestive of hypertrophic pachymeningitis.Conclusion: Symptoms and laboratory data are similar for both hypertrophic pachymeningitis and giant cell arteritis (GCA). The present case suggests the utility of ultrasonography and MRI as rapid, convenient, and noninvasive tools for differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy.