Primary malignant lymphoma in the cavernous sinus remarkably responded to steroid therapy: A case report

We report a case of cavernous sinus malignant lymphoma considered to be primary in which steroid therapy was remarkably effective. The patient was a 73-year-old Japanese woman who had been treated for a benign tumor of the left cavernous sinus one year and 8 months before and who was followed-up conservatively. She complained of recent progressive visual disturbance, and was admitted to our hospital. CT and MRI revealed a large mass lesion of the skull base that involved the left cavernous sinus, intra-and supra-sellar regions and the right middle fossa and extending along the underside of the cerebellar tentorium. Our preoperative diagnosis was a malignant meningioma. Histological examination showed malignant lymphoma of B cell type. The tumor remarkably responded to steroid treatment and for now, the tumor has disappeared from the image. Prompt treatment improves the outcome for malignant lymphoma substantially. In cases where the tumor shows remarkable growth, one should consider malignant lymphoma and should perform a biopsy promptly.