[Painful ophthalmoplegia (pseudotumor of the orbit and Tolosa-Hunt syndrome)].

INTRODUCTION: The Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS) and the Pseudotumor of the Orbit (PTO) each have three common clinical hallmarks: unilateral periorbital pain, cranial nerve palsies and a fast response to corticosteroid therapy. CASE REPORT: 48-year-old female with a right VI nerve paralysis, later develops a right III nerve paralysis. It is important to be able to differentiate between THS and PTO, and this is done on the basis of the complementary tests. DISCUSSION: Apart from neuroradiologic findings, the clinical presentation and histopathology of these two conditions are very similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Aspects common to both pathological processes are discussed.