Isolated abducens nerve palsy following upper respiratory infection in a patient with ipsilateral chronic sphenoid sinusitis.

The abducens nerve, which is vulnerable because of its complex anatomy at the skull base, is seldom affected by acute or severe sphenoid sinusitis. Notably, abducens nerve palsy following asymptomatic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a healthy young individual after a mild upper respiratory infection (URI) remains undocumented in the literature. Herein, we report a case of acute unilateral abducens neuropathy in a healthy 35-year-old woman with CRS in the ipsilateral sphenoid sinus, following a mild URI 2 weeks earlier. She presented with sudden-onset diplopia, was afebrile, and had normal serum inflammatory biomarkers. Comprehensive ophthalmological and neurological exams revealed no abnormalities except limited lateral gaze in the left eye. Imaging revealed mucosal swelling on the hyperpneumatized left sphenoid sinus, which thinned the clivus and positioned the inflamed mucosa close to the Dorello's canal, likely facilitating the spread of inflammation to the ipsilateral abducens nerve. Urgent endoscopic sinus surgery combined with systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics led to complete resolution by postoperative day 10. The present case demonstrates acute abducens nerve neuropathy from URI-induced exacerbation of sphenoid sinus CRS with specific anatomical predispositions.

Acute abducens nerve palsy following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Abducens nerve palsy is the most common isolated ocular cranial nerve palsy. In adults, nontraumatic etiologies of isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy can include vascular disease, inflammation, tumors, and a prior history of infection. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 52-year-old Asian male who developed acute abducens nerve palsy after vaccination with the AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. A complete workup including magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbits revealed no abnormalities. The patient experienced a gradual recovery over 10 weeks through alternative eye patching. The abducens nerve palsy is postulated to be correlated with the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine. CONCLUSION: Despite the recognized efficacy and cost benefits of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines, clinicians should be aware of the possible association between cranial nerve palsies and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines.

Isolated Sixth Nerve Palsy and COVID-19: A Recurrent Case in a 7-Month-Old Child and Analysis of Reported Cases.

BACKGROUND: With the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19), data on central and peripheral nervous system involvement, including those causing cranial nerve 6 (CN6) palsy, have been limited to case reports. To extract clinically relevant features of COVID-19-related CN6 palsy, we report on a recurrent pediatric case and analysis of reported cases associated with infection or immunization. METHODS: A PubMed search revealed 18 cases of isolated CN6 palsy in addition to the index case (n = 19). Clinical characteristics, workup, and temporal associations between systemic symptoms onset or vaccination, symptoms onset, and resolution were compiled and analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of CN6 onset was 43 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 28-52). Sixteen cases (84.2%) were associated with COVID-19 illness and 3 (15.8%) were associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Four cases (23.5%) had positive neuroimaging findings. The median latency from first COVID-19 symptoms or vaccination to onset of CN6 palsy was 6 days (IQR: 2.3-16), and the median time from onset to resolution was 30 days (IQR: 14-60). Latency to onset of CN6 palsy was significantly and directly associated with time to resolution (R 2 = 0.401, P = 0.010). Patients who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody test had significantly longer days from symptoms to onset (6.0 vs 24.5, P = 0.030), and patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test had a significantly shorter time to resolution (17.50 vs 90, P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Isolated CN6 palsy from COVID-19 is rare, can occur in infants as young as 7 months, and can be recurrent. Longer latency from systemic symptoms onset portends greater recovery times, and this relationship may reflect multiple mechanisms by which COVID-19 (and/or an immune response thereto) causes cranial neuropathies with direct clinical relevance.

Cranial Nerve VI Palsy Secondary to Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: In this report, we describe a rare case of a cranial nerve VI palsy secondary to herpes zoster infection with polyneuropathic involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old male was seen by ophthalmology for acute onset of double vision. Fourteen days before presenting, he was diagnosed with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. He was suspected to have zoster polyneuropathy also involving cranial nerve IX and X given a sore throat that began prior to the characteristic trigeminal dermatomal rash. He was diagnosed with cranial nerve VI palsy secondary to herpes zoster infection. DISCUSSION: Ophthalmic complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus are many; however, extraocular nerve palsies secondary to herpes zoster infection and zoster polyneuropathy are documented infrequently in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Extraocular muscle palsies are a rare complication of herpes zoster infection. This case reviews the most current literature surrounding this condition and discusses the significance of polyneuropathic involvement in varicella zoster virus reactivation.

Vertical "Half-and-Half" Syndrome with Ipsilateral Pseudoabducens Palsy due to Rostral Midbrain Lacunar Infarction.

Vertical "half-and-half" syndrome, characterized by contralateral upward and ipsilateral downward gaze palsy, is a rare variant of vertical eye movement disturbance. Similarly, pseudoabducens palsy, manifesting as abductive palsy despite no lesion to the pons, constitutes another rare type of eye movement disturbance. Both conditions have been associated with lesions in the thalamo-mesencephalic junction. We present a rare case report detailing a patient exhibiting vertical "half-and-half" syndrome with ipsilateral pseudoabducens palsy following a left lacunar infarction of the thalamo-mesencephalic junction. Additionally, we discuss the potential underlying mechanisms contributing to this rare combination of eye movement disorders.

Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy: A Rare Manifestation of Recurrent Extramedullary Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm, which may present as a solitary plasmacytoma and, uncommonly, as an extramedullary plasmacytoma. Intracranial plasmacytomas may manifest in central nervous system involvement as cranial nerve palsies. Cranial nerve six palsy is the most common in cases of malignancy. However, isolated abducens palsy presenting as multiple myeloma recurrence is very uncommon. Here, we detail two cases in which intracranial plasmacytoma lesions were present within the region of the Dorello canal, resulting in acute isolated unilateral diplopia from disease recurrence in the absence of systemic marrow involvement.

High-flow carotid cavernous fistula and 'white eye': A rare and easily misdiagnosed presentation - A case report and literature review.

The three classic symptoms of carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) are pulsating exophthalmos, bruit and conjunctival chemosis. Here, we present a clinical case of isolated abducens nerve palsy due to a high-flow CCF in an 84-year-old woman, without the typical congestive orbito-ocular features. It was a diagnostic challenge because, for patients older than 50 years with cardiovascular risk factors, ischaemic mononeuropathy is the most frequent aetiology. This case illustrates the least common type of CCF that can be easily misdiagnosed. Physicians should consider fistula as a possible diagnosis in a patient with isolated abducens nerve palsy even without the classic triad.

Lethal mycotic pseudoaneurysm presenting as isolated sixth nerve palsy.

Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery caused by skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) is a lethal condition seen in immunocompromised patients, predominantly those with diabetes mellitus. Cranial nerve involvement is a common complication and generally indicates a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 62-year-old diabetic patient who presented with isolated sixth cranial nerve palsy. She had uncontrolled blood sugar levels and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and she suffered from pyelonephritis. Neuroimaging detected SBO with multiple secondary mycotic pseudoaneurysms prominent at the petrocavernous junction. Ischemia is the most common etiology for an isolated abducens nerve palsy, but in certain cases neuroimaging is warranted to prevent life-threatening complications. This case highlights the importance and urgency of identifying and managing such conditions.

Right-sided Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Complicated by Bilateral Third, Fourth, and Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsies and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion.

Cases of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) complicated by bilateral ophthalmoplegia are rare, and no cases of bilateral third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerve palsies have been reported. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a rare complication of HZO. We herein report an 80-year-old Japanese woman with right-sided HZO complicated by meningoencephalitis and discuss the pathogenesis of this condition. She developed bilateral third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsies and SIADH almost simultaneously during treatment for HZO. The bilateral cranial palsy spontaneously resolved within a few months.

Cranial Nerve Six Palsy After Vaginal Delivery with Epidural Anesthesia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: This case report describes a 34-year-old woman who developed diplopia and strabismus 2 weeks after a vaginal delivery and epidural anesthesia. CASE REPORT: A 34-year-old women presented to the emergency department (ED) with continued headache and new-onset diplopia after having undergone epidural anesthesia for a vaginal delivery 2 weeks prior. During that time, she underwent two blood patches, rested supine, drank additional fluids, and consumed caffeinated products for her spinal headache. When she developed double vision from a cranial nerve VI palsy, she returned to the ED. At that time, she had a third blood patch performed, and she was evaluated by a neurologist. The medical team felt the cranial nerve VI palsy was due to the downward pull of the brain and stretching of the nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging and neurosurgical closure of the dura were considered as the next steps in treatment; however, they were not performed after being declined by the patient. All symptoms were resolved over the next 3 weeks. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case illustrates the uncommon complication of a cranial nerve VI palsy from a persistent cerebrospinal fluid leak after a dural puncture. Emergency physicians must be aware that diplopia can be a rare presenting symptom after patients undergo a lumbar puncture. Furthermore, emergency physicians should be aware of the multiple treatment options available. Knowledge of the timeline of resolution of the diplopia is necessary to make shared decisions with our patients about escalating care.

Carotid-cavernous fistula: A potential treatable cause of bilateral abducens palsy and conjunctival hyperemia.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) represent uncommon and anomalous communications between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case report RESULTS: We present the clinical details and successful management of a previously healthy 44-year-old patient who presented with one-month worsening headache, bilateral abducens palsy and conjunctival injection. Imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) facilitated the diagnosis of CCF. The patient underwent endovascular coiling of the CCF, leading to neurological recovery and symptom remission. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the importance of promptly CCF diagnosis in patients with multiple cranial nerve palsies and conjunctival hyperemia. Moreover, it emphasizes the efficacy of endovascular coiling in achieving symptom remission.

Ocular neuromyotonia: an unusual case after radiotheraphy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Ocular neuromyotonia (ONM) is an infrequent disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of binocular diplopia caused by paroxysmal contraction of one or several extraocular muscles innervated by the same cranial nerve. It can be triggered spontaneously or caused by prolonged contraction of specific eye muscle(s) and is usually related to a local intracranial radiotherapy antecedent. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who developed intermittent episodes of binocular diplopia eight years after radiotherapy for a nasopharyngeal carcinoma. After a complete neuro-ophthalmic assessment we diagnosed the case as an abducens nerve neuromyotonia. Although it is infrequent, radiotherapy to the nasopharynx is a possible cause of ONM, due to the proximity to the base of the skull and extraocular motor nerve pathways, especially that of the VI cranial nerve, as is the case presented in this article, about a patient whose history is a nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with local radiotherapy.

Rare Combination of Abducens Nerve Palsy and Optic Neuritis on the Same Side: Case Report and Review of 8 Patients in Literature.

The concurrent development of abducens nerve palsy and optic neuritis on the same side is rare. Here we presented an 82-year-old man who developed the combination of abducens nerve palsy and optic neuritis on the left side 2 months after the sixth inoculation of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. In past history at 45 years old, he experienced subarachnoid hemorrhage and underwent surgery for the clipping of intracranial aneurysm. The patient had no systemic symptoms, such as general fatigue, fever, arthralgia, and skin rashes. Physical and neurological examinations were also unremarkable. Since the aneurysmal metal clip used at that time was not compatible with magnetic resonance imaging, he underwent computed tomographic (CT) scan of the head and showed no space-occupying lesion in the orbit, paranasal sinuses, and brain. As an old lesion, the anterior temporal lobe on the left side had low-density area with metallic artifact on the left side of the skull base, indicative of metal clipping. In 4 weeks of observation from the initial visit, he showed complete recovery of visual acuity and became capable of abducting the left eye in full degrees. We also reviewed 8 patients with the combination of abducens nerve palsy and optic neuritis in the literature to reveal that the combination of signs did occur in mild meningitis with rare infectious diseases and in association with preceding herpes zoster in the first branch of the trigeminal nerve. The course of the present patient suggested that the combination of signs might be vaccine-associated.

Sixth cranial nerve palsy and trigeminal neuropathic pain due to a space-occupying lesion.

Various neuropathies of the cranil nerves can accompany trigeminal neuropathic pain attributed to space-occupying lesions. In this case report, the patient presented with persistent intraoral pain and numbness on the right side of the face. Cranial nerve examination revealed dysfunctional eye movements, diplopia, and mechanical hyposensitivity in the mandibular region. The patient was diagnosed with neuropathy due to intracranial lesions and referred to the Department of Neurosurgery and Otorhinolaryngology. The patient was suspected of having malignant lymphoma and is currently undergoing neurosurgical intervention. This article discusses the importance of the examination of the cranial nerve for patients with persistent pain in the trigeminal nerve distribution.

Occurrence of the ossification of petrosphenoid ligament: a retrospective radiologic study from computed tomographic images.

BACKGROUND: Various ligaments present in the skull base are of clinical and surgical importance. One among them, is the petrosphenoid ligament (PSL). PSL may ossify either in a partial or complete form and forms the roof of Dorello's canal underneath which the abducens nerve passes. Studies argued both protective and adverse effects of the ossified PSL. Hence, the incidence of PSL ossification has become a relevant subject in clinical practice to radiologists, neurologists and neurosurgeons for understanding its potential role in abducens nerve compression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have undertaken this study to investigate the incidence of PSL ossification from multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) images of the patients who had been referred to the Medical Imaging Department of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital in Kuwait. We retrospectively assessed a total of 200 patients' head CT scans (400 petroclival regions) between January 2021 and June 2022 in which 59% were males (n = 118) and 41% were females (n = 82) aged between 18 and 91 years. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (26 male, 11 female) aged between 18-84 years were presented with ossification of PSL. Among these 37 patients, 28 patients were presented with unilateral ossified PSL, and 9 patients were presented with bilateral ossified PSL, amounting to the total of 46 ossified PSL from 400 CT images of the petroclival regions (11.5%). The genderwise and sidewise occurrence of the PSL ossification seen in different age groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Among all the ossified cases, there was no patient presented with abducens nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: We believe our results provide baseline data in the region for understanding PSL ossification and its impact on the abducens nerve palsy.