Acute pachymeningitis mimicking subdural hematoma in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa

Rheumatol Int. 2005 Oct;25(8):637-40. doi: 10.1007/s00296-005-0615-9. Epub 2005 Jul 6.

Abstract

Pachymeningitis is a very rare neurologic manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). This report describes a case of acute pachymeningitis that was, initially, misdiagnosed as subdural hematoma on the brain CT of a patient with PAN. A 45-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as having PAN 6 months previously, came back to the emergency room with complaints of sudden headache, nausea, vomiting, and diplopia for 3 days before his hospital admission. Initially, the noncontrast enhanced brain CT findings showed high densities in the bilateral tentorial and posterior parafalcial area, which suggested a small amount of subdural hematoma. However, the subsequent MRI findings revealed pachymeningitis of the bilateral tentoria and falx. He was treated with high-dose steroid and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Thereafter, his symptoms gradually resolved.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Hematoma, Subdural / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningitis / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis / drug therapy
  • Meningitis / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa / complications*
  • Pulse Therapy, Drug
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide