Hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis associated with mixed connective tissue disease; a comparison with idiopathic and infectious pachymeningitis.

This is the first report describing hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis which developed in association with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). A 56-year-old man with a two-year history of MCTD gradually developed symptoms of headache and blurred vision. Bilateral papilledema and increased opening pressure and mild pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid were noted. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a diffuse thickening and a gadolinium-enhancement of the cranial dura mater. While five previous patients, diagnosed as idiopathic or infectious hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis in our department, had either otitis media or sinusitis and showed multiple cranial nerve involvement, the present patient had neither otitis media nor sinusitis and did not show any cranial nerve involvement other than papilledema.