[Ptosis secondary to cavernous sinus meningioma]

Meningiomas of the cavernous sinus are often the cause of neuro-ophthalmologic manifestations. Fifty percent of affected patients present with ptosis. We report a case of ptosis acquired during the first year of life due to oculomotor nerve palsy secondary to a cavernous sinus meningioma. We then discuss the causes of third cranial nerve palsy and treatment options for ptosis associated with CN III palsy.

A fifteen-year-old female patient presented with ptosis due to a third cranial nerve palsy appearing within the first year of life. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cavernous sinus meningioma. The ptosis was treated by frontalis suspension using autologous temporalis fascia. The meningioma required regular follow-up.

Ptosis due to third cranial nerve palsy is rare in children. The most common etiologies are congenital and represent 33 to 40% of cases in various studies. Other etiologies are traumatic, tumoral, vascular and infectious. The cause needs to be found by imaging over the entire course of the nerve. Cavernous sinus meningioma is one cause of third cranial nerve palsy. The surgical treatment of ptosis due to third cranial nerve palsy is levator resection or frontalis suspension with a strip of fascia lata or temporalis fascia.