Idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis mimicking multiple meningiomas : case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Acta neuropathologica Vol. 94; no. 4; pp. 385 - 389
• Main Authors: DEPREZ, M, BORN, J, HAUWAERT, C, OTTO, B, REZNIK, M
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.10.1997; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Adult; Angiography; Arthritis; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Brain cancer; Case reports; Computed tomography; Diagnosis, Differential; Dura Mater - diagnostic imaging; Dura Mater - pathology; Dura Mater/pathology/radiography; Female; Histocytochemistry; Human health sciences; Humans; Literature reviews; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Meningeal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Meningeal Neoplasms - pathology; Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/radiography; Meningioma - diagnosis; Meningioma - diagnostic imaging; Meningioma - pathology; Meningioma/diagnosis/pathology/radiography; Meningitis - diagnosis; Meningitis - diagnostic imaging; Meningitis - pathology; Meningitis/diagnosis/pathology/radiography; Mimicry; Neurologie; Neurology; Sciences de la santé humaine; Skull; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Case study; Human; Nervous system diseases; Multiple; Pachymeningitis; Idiopathic; Benign neoplasm; Differential diagnostic; Meningioma; Inflammatory disease
• ISSN: 0001-6322; 1432-0533; 1432-0533
• DOI: 10.1007/s004010050723

A case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis with an unusual and misleading manifestation is reported. Computed tomography scan, angiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of multiple meningeal neoplasms and a correct diagnosis was made only after meningeal biopsy. This 44-year-old patient had a previous history of an ill-defined systemic disorder associating episcleritis, erythroderma nodosa and multiple peripheral arthritis. We review previous reports of idiopathic cranial pachymeningitis with emphasis on radiological investigation techniques, histopathology and possible dysimmune mechanisms of pathogenesis.