Parasellar epidermoid tumor presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia

In 1964, a 51-year-old man experienced a right abducens nerve palsy, which resolved spontaneously. In 1978, he developed painful ophthalmoplegia on the right with paresis of the right oculomotor and trigeminal nerves. Neuroradiographic evaluation was reported unremarkable, and the painful ophthalmoplegia was attributed to the Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. High-dose corticosteroids were administered with transient improvement of signs and symptoms. In 1979, cranial computerized tomography demonstrated a low-density lesion adjacent to the right cavernous sinus, which at operation proved to be an epidermoid tumor.