Optic Neuropathy with Headache and Palpable Temporal Arteries Due to Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis Rather than Giant Cell Arteritis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report a case of optic neuropathy diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasonography and Gadolinium-enhanced cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Case report: A 79-year-old woman presented with headache and vision loss in her left eye. Although her bilateral temporal arteries were palpable and rope-like, color Doppler ultrasonography showed normal flow in both arteries with no signs of arteritis. MRI revealed increased enhancement of the pachymeninges enveloping both cerebral hemispheres, suggestive of hypertrophic pachymeningitis.

Conclusion: Symptoms and laboratory data are similar for both hypertrophic pachymeningitis and giant cell arteritis (GCA). The present case suggests the utility of ultrasonography and MRI as rapid, convenient, and noninvasive tools for differential diagnosis of optic neuropathy.

KEYWORDS:

• Color Doppler ultrasonography
• hypertrophic pachymeningitis
• giant cell arteritis
• ischemic optic neuropathy
• gadolinium-enhanced cerebral magnetic resonance imaging

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.