Intracavernous teratoma in a school-aged child

Abstract

An eight-year-old boy presented with left eye pain, photophobia, proptosis, third nerve paresis and decreased visual acuity. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a nonenhancing mass filling the cavernous sinus. Using an extradural fronto-orbitozygomatic approach, the cavernous sinus was approached laterally, and a teratoma was removed from within the cavernous sinus. This is the first case of a truly intracavernous teratoma in a child and the fourth case of a teratoma reported in the cavernous sinus region overall. This report outlines the diagnosis and treatment of this unusual cavernous sinus tumor.