Symptomatic solitary xanthogranuloma occupying the cavernous sinus. Case report.

The authors report the first case of a solitary xanthogranuloma of the cavernous sinus without systemic manifestation. A 43-year-old woman experienced decreased visual acuity on the right side in association with papilledema and a visual field defect. She was alert and no other neurological sign was observed. She had no family history of hyperlipoproteinemia and no cutaneous and/or systemic xanthomatous lesions. Skull x-ray films showed an enlarged right superior orbital fissure. Computerized tomography revealed a low-density oval mass 2 x 3 cm in diameter in the right cavernous region that was compressing the right optic nerve in the lateral to medial direction. This mass exhibited isointensity on T1-weighted and mixed-pattern hyperintensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images with diffuse contrast enhancement. Cerebral angiography demonstrated fine staining in the margin, originating from the right middle meningeal artery. These neuroimaging findings closely mimicked those associated with trigeminal neuroma. The lesion was partially removed via a right-sided zygomatic approach, and her symptoms improved. Clinical characteristics and histopathological features of this rare case are discussed.