INTRODUCTION:

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is characterized by painful ophthalmoplegia of unknown etiology, the formation of a granulomatous tissue in the cavernous sinuses has been described in histopatho-logical findings.

CASE PRESENTATION:

A 22-year-old woman presenting with 3 weeks of right sided headache, right eye pain and diplopia. Physical examination revealed the existence of a right ophthalmoplegia; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella turcica showed thickening and enhancement of the right cavernous sinus. A clinical case of an unusual cause of painful ophthalmoplegia is presented.

DISCUSSION:

Painful ophthalmoplegia has multiple differential diagnoses that include neoplastic, vascular, inflammatory and infectious causes that can affect the cavernous sinus or the superior orbital fissure. STH is a rare case of painful ophthalmoplegia that continues to be a diagnosis of exclusion characterized by an adequate response to treatment with glucocorticoids.

CONCLUSION:

The negativity of the investigations for the causes of ophthalmoplegia, the imaging findings in the MRI and the adequate response to corticosteroids allows the diagnosis to be made. Biopsy should not be necessary when THS is suspected and there is an adequate response to corticosteroid management.

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