IDIOPATHIC HYPERTROPHIC CRANIAL PACHYMENINGITIS MIMICKING MULTIPLE MENINGIOMAS - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A case of idiopathic hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis with an unus ual 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 histo ry of an ill-defined systemic disorder associating episcleritis, eryth roderma nodosa and multiple peripheral arthritis. We review previous r eports of idiopathic cranial pachymeningitis with emphasis on radiolog ical investigation techniques, histopathology and possible dysimmune m echanisms of pathogenesis.