Surgical treatment of rare metastatic tumor in Meckel’s Cave

Abstract

Objectives: Metastases in Meckel’s cave are a rare tumor entity, but they should be considered in patients with a known primary malignancy and who complain of trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: The case of a patient with a left trigeminal neuralgia caused by a metastatic tumor involving the Meckel’s cave and Gasserian ganglion is reported. Preoperative symptoms included headache, trigeminal hyperesthesia and facial pain. Results: The patient underwent microsurgical resection of the tumor, obtaining a histological diagnosis and a resolution of the pain. Trigeminal motor function was preserved. Conclusion: The best treatment for tumors of Meckel’s cave, including metastases, is complete microsurgical removal. Although good results have been reported with radiosurgery, this treatment should be reserved only for nonresectable and residual tumors.

Keywords

• metastases
• Meckel’s cave
• trigeminal neuralgia
• microsurgery