Primary Ectopic Meningioma in the Left Ethmoid Sinus

—A Case Report—

Abstract

A 20-year-old woman was admitted in November, 1978 because of left proptosis, which had progressed slowly since September, 1977. Her eye ball movement was normal and no other neurological dificits were noted. Plain skull roentgenograms suggested an osteogenic tumor of the left medial supraorbital region. Left carotid angiography showed hypertrophied ethmoidal branches of the ophthalmic artery. Bifrontal craniotomy was performed. The left orbital bone was separated from the dura mater and removed. An encapsulated ovoid tumor (3.5×3.5×4.0 cm) appeared under the thinned and expanded orbital bone. The main mass was situated in the left ethmoidal sinus. The tumor, which was separated from the dura mater and periorbita by the membranous bone, was removed piece by piece, totally. Postoperatively, the left proptosis decreased but a slight disturbance of the left eye ball movement occurred. Typical psammomatous meningioma was noted microscopically. She was discharged in December, 1978 with slight disturbance of the left eye ball movement and mild proptosis. She had no symptoms in September 1980. A total of 60 cases of primary ectopic meningioma were reviewed from the literature.