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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
09:53
Role of Diffusion MRI Tractography in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery
Published on: July 5, 2021
Inflammatory pseudotumor of the cavernous sinus and skull base
Todd McCall1, Daniel R Fassett, George Lyons
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, 30 North 1900 East, Suite 3B409, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
Neurosurgical Review
|March 28, 2006
Summary
Inflammatory pseudotumor is a non-cancerous condition causing tissue growth and inflammation. These lesions, often in the brain, respond well to steroids, with surgery usually limited to biopsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Inflammatory pseudotumor is a non-neoplastic condition of unknown cause.
- It involves connective tissue proliferation and inflammatory infiltrate.
Observation:
- Intracranial inflammatory pseudotumors commonly affect the cavernous sinus.
- They can also occur in supratentorial/infratentorial compartments and the spinal canal.
- Symptoms vary by location; cavernous sinus involvement often causes cranial nerve palsies.
Findings:
- These lesions demonstrate rapid responsiveness to steroid therapy.
- Surgical intervention is generally reserved for biopsy purposes.
- Complete resection may be considered for lesions outside the cavernous sinus.
Implications:
- Steroid therapy is a primary treatment modality for inflammatory pseudotumors.
- Surgical management strategies should be tailored to lesion location.
- Further research into the etiology of inflammatory pseudotumors is warranted.
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