Diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma to the cavernous sinus by computed tomograpy-guided fine-needle aspiration.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of metastatic lung carcinoma to the cavernous sinus and orbital apex diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration guided by computed tomography.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A 52-year-old man who presented with right-sided ptosis and ophthalmoplegia was found to have an enhancing mass of the right orbital apex and cavernous sinus extending into the temporal fossa on magnetic resonance imaging. Chest computed tomography revealed hilar adenopathy and a lesion of the right lower lobe of the lung. Bronchial washings and transbronchial needle biopsies of the lung were nondiagnostic. Computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration of the temporal fossa portion of the mass was performed.


RESULTS
Biopsy of the mass showed malignant cells consistent with metastatic non-small cell lung carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration can be useful in the diagnosis and management of some masses involving the cavernous sinus.
Lin
Albert
A
Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Foroozan
Rod
R
Carrier
David
D
Yen
Michael T
MT
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000556:secondary*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed