Dermoid of cavernous sinus resulting in isolated oculomotor nerve palsy

Intracranial dermoid cysts and acquired oculomotor nerve palsies are individually rare in childhood. This report describes a 4-year-old boy with acute oculomotor nerve palsy and pupillary sparing secondary to a dermoid within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. The clinical signs resolved after complete surgical excision of the tumor with no evidence of recurrence on computed tomography 1 year later. This is the first case report in childhood of a dermoid within the cavernous sinus and of an isolated oculomotor nerve palsy due to a dermoid cyst.