Cranial pachymeningitis.

Introduction. - Pachymeningitis is a fibrous inflammatory process with non- specific symptoms, involving the dura mater. Due to MRI development, diagno sis is both easier and earlier Current knowledge and key points. - We report seven cases and review curren t literature. Clinical features are headaches and cranial nerve palsies. CS F shows inflammatory changes, while MRI evidences thickening of the dura ma ter Disease etiologies in the present study were tuberculosis in two cases, sarcoidosis, Lyme disease, lymphoma and dural puncture; in one case only t he disease was of unknown origin. The condition of six patients improved wi th specific treatment. Future prospects and projects, - Further MRI development should allow detec tion of new forms of pachymeningitis and standardization of patients' manag ement through the study of more important series. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.