Cavernous Sinus Syndrome: An Unusual Diagnosis

Abstract

Cavernous sinus syndrome is characterized by ophthalmoplegia, diplopia, facial hypoesthesia, Horner syndrome and proptosis. The authors present a clinical case of an 89-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with complaints of vomiting, severe left frontotemporal headache, photophobia, left ptosis and diplopia with less than 24 hours of evolution. Neurological examination revealed ptosis and limitation of all eye movements in the left eye. Cranioencephalic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed an expansive lesion with expression in the suprasellar cistern and in the left cavernous sinus, suggestive of a macroadenoma with signs of hemorrhagic transformation. Cavernous sinus syndrome has several etiologies, as cerebrovascular diseases, infectious diseases, and trauma. In addition to the clinical history and physical examination, imaging tests are essential to determine the etiology behind this syndrome.