Isolated Third Cranial Nerve Palsy in Pituitary Apoplexy: Case Report and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of isolated third nerve palsy from pituitary apoplexy and perform a systematic literature review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE/EMBASE databases were searched up to September 2020. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Age≥18, isolated third nerve palsy from pituitary apoplexy. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Age<18, presence of other neurological findings, no hemorrhage or infarction of pituitary. RESULTS: Case report: A 76-year-old woman presented with headache and right-sided ptosis. Right-eye exam revealed complete ptosis, absent pupillary constriction and accommodation, depressed and abducted eye on primary gaze, and -1 impaired depression, adduction, elevation, without other neurological findings. Brain MRI was suggestive of pituitary apoplexy. Pathology after transsphenoidal resection revealed an infarcted pituitary adenoma. Third nerve palsy resolved completely in 21 days. Systematic review: Twenty-three studies reporting 35 patients were selected from 182 abstracts. Twenty-nine (83%) had complete isolated third nerve palsy. Headache was reported in 31 (97%). Thirty-one had hemorrhage and 1 had infarction of pituitary. Cavernous sinus invasion occurred in 14 (50%). Twenty-eight were managed surgically (80%) and 7 medically (20%). Nerve palsy resolved completely in 27 (82%) and partially in 4 (11%). CONCLUSIONS: Pituitary apoplexy is an important differential diagnosis in patients with isolated third nerve palsy. Isolated third nerve palsy in apoplexy appears to have favorable prognosis.

Pupil-Involving Oculomotor Nerve Palsy Following Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy.

Ocular complications of adenotonsillectomy are rare. The authors describe a 6-year-old boy who developed mydrasis and limitations of supraduction and infraduction after adenotonsillectomy. This was attributed to the hemorrhagic compression of the nerve in the cavernous sinus. This is the first report of pupil-involving oculomotor nerve palsy following adenotonsillectomy. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56:e76-e78.].

Idiopathic third and sixth cranial nerve neuritis.

PURPOSE: To present cases with idiopathic third and sixth cranial nerve neuritis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study METHODS: The results of high resolution pre- and post- cranial nerve magnetic resonance images (MRI) with three-dimensional sequences for visualizing cranial nerves in patients with third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsies who were treated at the Neuro-ophthalmology Department of Samsung Medical Center were reviewed. Patients with cranial nerve enhancement confirmed by experienced radiologists were identified. The medical records of these patients were reviewed, and their demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory results, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 265 patients with third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy, 60 were identified by high resolution MRI as having enhancement of the corresponding cranial nerve. Among these, 17 patients with infiltrative, granulomatous, or tumorous lesions were excluded. In addition, 28 patients with identifiable causes of cranial nerve palsy, such as Miller-fisher syndrome, virus infection, or radiation-induced neuropathy, as well as patients with vasculopathic risk factors, were also excluded. Ultimately, a total of 15 patients with idiopathic third and sixth cranial nerve neuritis were included in this study. The mean age of these patients was 43 ± 15 years. Eight patients had sixth cranial nerve palsy, six third cranial nerve palsy (two partial and four complete), and one patient with complete third and sixth cranial nerve palsy. Nine patients received steroid treatment. Eleven patients recovered fully within a period ranging from a few days to one year. Two patients were much improved up to 1 month after initial presentation, but were then ultimately lost to follow-up. Another patient was lost to follow-up after the initial work-up. The other patient lost to follow-up had partially recovered during the first 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: We present patients with idiopathic third and sixth cranial nerve neuritis. They tended to respond well to steroid treatment and to have good prognoses. In order to better understand the long-term prognosis of cranial nerve neuritis and possible association with other neurologic disorders, a larger scale and longer-term study is needed.

Evaluation of vestibular and oculomotor functions in individuals with dizziness after stroke / Avaliação das funções vestibular e oculomotora em indivíduos com tontura após acidente vascular encefálico

ABSTRACT Changes in postural balance and visual complaints are frequent consequences of stroke. We aimed to investigate the symptoms and the vestibular and oculomotor functions of patients with dizziness post ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and compare the results among them. Methods: Fifty patients with dizziness after stroke were evaluated through a clinical anamnesis and computerized vector electronystagmography: calibration of ocular movements, spontaneous nystagmus, semi-spontaneous nystagmus, pendular tracking, optokinetic nystagmus, rotary chair testing, and the caloric test. Results: All patients complained of dizziness, especially imbalance. Ischemic stroke in the carotid territory was the prevalent type. Visual complaints were reported by 56% of the sample and were related to abnormalities in oculomotor and caloric tests. Conclusion: The occurrence of visual symptoms was related to some abnormalities in the vector electronystagmography tests, being more frequent in cases of stroke in the vertebrobasilar system, and with oscillopsia and reduced visual acuity as symptoms.

RESUMO Alterações no equilíbrio postural são consequências frequentes no acidente vascular cerebral (AVC). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os sintomas e as funções vestibular e oculomotora de sujeitos com tontura após AVC isquêmico e hemorrágico, comparando seus resultados. Métodos: Foram avaliados 50 sujeitos com tontura após AVC, por meio de anamnese clínica e vectoeletronistagmografia computadorizada (VENG): calibração dos movimentos oculares; nistagmo espontâneo e semi-espontâneo; rastreio pendular; nistagmo optocinético; prova rotatória pendular decrescente e prova calórica com estímulo a ar. Resultados: Todos relataram tontura, principalmente do tipo desequilíbrio. O AVC isquêmico e no sistema carotídeo foi o mais frequente. Sintomas visuais pós-AVC foram referidos por 56% da amostra, os quais tiveram relação com alterações nas provas oculomotoras e calórica da VENG. Conclusão: A ocorrência de sintomas visuais relacionou-se a alterações em alguns testes. Essas alterações foram mais frequentes nos casos de AVC da circulação posterior, naqueles com oscilopsia e diminuição da acuidade visual.

Assessment of Infraorbital Hypesthesia Following Orbital Floor and Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures Using a Novel Sensory Grading System.

PURPOSE: Introduction of a novel sensory grading system to assess the incidence and long-term recovery of infraorbital hypesthesia following orbital floor and inferior orbital rim fractures. METHODS: Patients who presented for evaluation of orbital floor and/or zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures between January 2015 and April 2016 were analyzed. Two-point subjective infraorbital sensory grading in 5 discrete anatomic areas was performed. Fractures were repaired based on traditional criteria; hypesthesia was not an indication for surgery. The sensory grading system was repeated a mean 21.7 months (range 18-28) after initial fracture. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (mean 41.8 years) participated in the initial symptom grading, and 42 patients (67.7%) completed the 2-year follow-up. Overall, 20 of 42 patients (47.6%) had some infraorbital hypesthesia. There were fewer with isolated orbital floor fractures versus ZMC fractures (31.8% vs. 68.4%; p = 0.019). Two years postinjury, 9.1% and 40.0% with isolated floor and ZMC fractures, respectively, had persistent sensory disturbance (p = 0.0188). Of patients with sensory disturbance on presentation, 71.4% with isolated floor fractures and 38.5% with ZMC fractures experienced complete sensory recovery (p = 0.1596). Patients with isolated floor fractures had improved recovery after surgery (100% vs. 33.3% recovery; p = 0.0410). Patients with ZMC fractures showed no difference in sensory prognosis between those repaired and observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, isolated orbital floor fractures carried a good infraorbital sensory prognosis, further improved by surgical repair. Zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures portended a worse long-term sensory outcome, unaffected by management strategy. This study validates the novel sensory grading system in post-fracture analysis.

Electrophysiology of Extraocular Cranial Nerves: Oculomotor, Trochlear, and Abducens Nerve.

The utility of extraocular cranial nerve electrophysiologic recordings lies primarily in the operating room during skull base surgeries. Surgical manipulation during skull base surgeries poses a risk of injury to multiple cranial nerves, including those innervating extraocular muscles. Because tumors distort normal anatomic relationships, it becomes particularly challenging to identify cranial nerve structures. Studies have reported the benefits of using intraoperative spontaneous electromyographic recordings and compound muscle action potentials evoked by electrical stimulation in preventing postoperative neurologic deficits. Apart from surgical applications, electromyography of extraocular muscles has also been used to guide botulinum toxin injections in patients with strabismus and as an adjuvant diagnostic test in myasthenia gravis. In this article, we briefly review the rationale, current available techniques to monitor extraocular cranial nerves, technical difficulties, clinical and surgical applications, as well as future directions for research.

How Reliable Is Pupillary Evaluation Following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage? Effect of Oculomotor Nerve Degeneration Secondary to Posterior Communicating Artery Vasospasm: First Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Basic neurophysiologic principles of the light reflex are well known. However, the effects of degenerated axon densities of oculomotor nerves (OMNs) secondary to posterior communicating artery (PComA) vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have not been investigated. Our aim was to study this subject. METHODS: This study was conducted on 19 rabbits. There was a control group of five animals, a sham group of five animals in which saline was injected into the cisterna magna and a study group of nine animals in which homologous blood was injected into the cisterna magna. Pupillary diameters were measured for 1 week, then the animals were decapitated. The normal and degenerated axon densities of the OMNs were examined by stereological methods. Vasospasm indexes (VSIs) of posterior communicating arteries (PComAs) supplying OMNs were estimated and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The pupillary diameter was 5.439 ± 368 µm, and the mean axon density of the OMNs was 0.924 ± 324/mm3 in the control group. The pupillary diameter and degenerated axon density of the OMNs in animals of the sham group were 6.980 ± 0.370 µm and 36 ± 8/mm3, respectively. The pupillary diameter was 9.942 ± 653 µm, and degenerated axon density of the OMNs was 265 ± 57/mm3 in animals with SAH. The mean VSI values of PComAs were 0.927 ± 0.224 in the control group, 1.542 ± 0.257 in the sham group, and 2.321 ± 0.324 in the SAH group. CONCLUSION: We found a linear relationship between the axon density of the OMNs and pupillary diameters. High degenerated neuron density in the OMNs may be responsible for an unresponsive pupillary that has not been mentioned in the literature.

Strabismus.

Defining the type of strabismus creates a framework for work-up and management. Comitant esotropia is most commonly a childhood condition treated with glasses and surgery. Comitant exotropia is often a childhood condition that may require surgical correction. Microvascular disease is the most common cause of ocular cranial nerve palsies in adult patients.

Morning glory disc anomaly in childhood - a population-based study.

PURPOSE: To report prevalence, ocular characteristics and coexisting neurological, behavioural, somatic and neuroradiological abnormalities in children and adolescents with morning glory disc anomaly (MGDA). METHODS: In a cross-sectional population-based study, 12 patients with MGDA, aged 2-20 years, were identified. All 12 agreed to ophthalmological assessments including visual functions, refraction, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ocular motor score (OMS). Neurological examinations and behavioural/developmental screening were carried out. Data from previous or new neuroradiological investigations were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of MGDA was 2.6/100 000. MGDA was unilateral in 11/12 patients with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the MGDA eye ranging from hand motion to 0.65 (median 0.06). Severe microphthalmus prevented unilaterality to be determined in one adolescent. All patients had a binocular BCVA of ≥0.5. OMS showed abnormalities in pupil response, vestibulo-ocular reflex, stereo visual acuity, strabismus and convergence. OCT revealed peripapillary or macular oedema in 5/8 patients and foveal aplasia in 3/8 patients. Three patients had extensive capillary hemangiomas, of which one had PHACES syndrome and one had additional cerebrovascular anomalies and corpus callosum agenesis. Neuroradiology showed craniovascular anomalies in two patients. Neurology was mostly normal. Behavioural/developmental screening showed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence data, previously not reported, of morning glory disc anomaly was 2.6/100 000. Coexisting retinal peripapillary or macular oedema was common, as were cerebral abnormalities and/or cutaneous vascular malformations. The associated findings may not be discovered through routine ophthalmological examination why OCT and neuroimaging are called for.

Screening for lifetime concussion in athletes: importance of oculomotor measures.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the utility of oculomotor-based evaluation protocols in screening for lifetime concussion incidence in elite hockey players. METHODS: Forty-two Division I collegiate male and female hockey players were evaluated using the guidelines of an overall oculomotor-based diagnostic clinical test protocol for the mTBI population. The sensitivity of the collected measures to lifetime concussion was then compared with the corresponding sensitivity of measures of neuropsychological functioning (ImPACT) often used with athletes for acute concussion diagnosis. RESULTS: This model showed that a hockey player with a Near Point of Fixation Disparity (NPFD) equal to or greater than 15 cm, Visagraph comprehension rate less than 85% and the total score on part A of an ADHD questionnaire equal to or greater than 11 was on average 10.72-times more likely to have previously suffered a concussion than an athlete with lower values on the NPFD and ADHD questionnaire and a higher comprehension rate on the Visagraph. None of the IMPACT baseline assessment measures were significantly predictive of the individual's concussion history. CONCLUSION: The study provides a relatively sensitive screening tool to assess the probability of previous concussion(s) in an athlete. This model may allow athletic personnel to address in a timely manner the risks associated with repeat concussions and to develop individualized concussion management protocols.

Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials induced by air-conducted sound in patients with acute brainstem lesions.

OBJECTIVE: The ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), a recently documented otolith-ocular reflex, is considered to reflect the central projections of the primary otolithic afferent fibers to the oculomotor nuclei. The aim of our study is to define air-conducted sound oVEMP abnormality in patients with acute brainstem lesions and to determine the brainstem structures involved in the generation of oVEMPs. METHODS: In response to air-conducted tone burst sounds (ACS), oVEMP was measured in 52 patients with acute brainstem lesions. Individualized brainstem lesions were analyzed by means of MRI-based voxel-wise lesion-behavior mapping, and the probabilistic lesion maps were constructed. RESULTS: More than half (n=28, 53.8%) of the patients with acute brainstem lesions showed abnormal oVEMP in response to ACS. The majority of patients with abnormal oVEMPs had lesions in the dorsomedial brainstem that contains the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF), the crossed ventral tegmental tract (CVTT), and the oculomotor nuclei and nerves. CONCLUSION: MLF, CVTT, and the oculomotor nuclei and nerves appear to be responsible for otolith-ocular responses in the brainstem. SIGNIFICANCE: Complemented to cervical VEMP for the uncrossed otolith-spinal function, oVEMP to ACS may be applied to evaluate the crossed otolith-ocular function in central vestibulopathies.

Ocular neuromyotonia treated by microvascular decompression: usefulness of preoperative 3D imaging: case report.

Ocular neuromyotonia is a rare ocular motility disorder characterized by involuntary contraction of extraocular muscles resulting in paroxysmal diplopia. Although ocular neuromyotonia is reported as a rare complication after radiation therapy, there are a few cases of ocular neuromyotonia in the absence of irradiation. In the reported cases the possibility of vascular compression has been suggested on radiological imaging. The authors report a case of ocular neuromyotonia treated by microvascular decompression of the third cranial nerve, supporting the hypothesis that neurovascular compression may play a role in its pathogenesis. The usefulness of preoperative 3D imaging for microvascular decompression is also discussed.

Factors contributing to failure of neuromuscular transmission in myasthenia gravis and the special case of the extraocular muscles.

Acetylcholine receptors (AchRs) and Na(+) channels (NaChs) are concentrated on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) postsynaptic folds; both are depleted in myasthenia gravis (MG), reducing the safety factor (SF) for neuromuscular transmission, especially in extraocular muscles (EOM). Studies of human myasthenic nerve-muscle preparations indicate that loss of endplate AChRs accounts for 59%, and NaChs for 40%, of SF reduction. Rodent models of MG indicate that NaChs and AChRs losses are due to complement-mediated destruction of postsynaptic folding. Saccades in MG show stereotyped, conjugate initial components, similar to normal but different from early disconjugacy with ocular nerve palsies. Loss of AChRs, NaChs, and postsynaptic folding all contribute to SF reduction in MG. EOM seem more susceptible to MG because of poor postsynaptic folding, lower baseline SF, and lower levels of intrinsic complement inhibitors. Initial conjugacy of saccades in MG reflects selective sparing of neuromuscular transmission of fast, pale global fibers, which have better developed postsynaptic folding.

Infranuclear ocular motor disorders.

This chapter covers the very large number of possible disorders that can affect the three ocular motor nerves, the neuromuscular junction, or the extraocular muscles. Conditions affecting the nerves are discussed under two major headings: those in which the site of damage can be anatomically localized (e.g., fascicular lesions and lesions occurring in the subarachnoid space, the cavernous sinus, the superior orbital fissure, or the orbit) and those in which the site of the lesion is either nonspecific or variable (e.g., vascular lesions, tumors, "ophthalmoplegic migraine," and congenital disorders). Specific comments on the diagnosis and management of disorders of each of the three nerves follow. Ocular motor synkineses (including Duane's retraction syndrome and aberrant regeneration) and disorders resulting in paroxysms of excess activity (e.g., neuromyotonia) are then covered, followed by myasthenia gravis and other disorders that affect the neuromuscular junction. A final section discusses disorders of the extraocular muscles themselves, including thyroid disease, orbital myositis, mitochondrial disease, and the muscular dystrophies.

Third nerve palsy: analysis of 1400 personally-examined inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Most studies of third nerve palsy (TNP) antedate computerized imaging and focus primarily on chart review of referral outpatients. METHODS: To compare a large contrasting population, I reviewed 1400 personally-examined municipal hospital inpatients with TNPs seen over 37 years. RESULTS: TNPs were bilateral in 11%, complete in 33%, without other neurological signs (isolated) in 36%, and associated with recurrent cranial neuropathies in 7%. Third nerve damage occurred in the subarachnoid space in 32%, the cavernous sinus in 23%, the brainstem in 14%, as a nonlocalized peripheral neuropathy in 18% and at an uncertain location in 13%. Causes were trauma (26%), tumor (12%), diabetes (11%), aneurysm (10%), surgery (10%), stroke (8%), infection (5%), Guillain-Barre and Fisher syndromes (5%), idiopathic cavernous sinusitis (3%), benign self-limited (2%), miscellaneous (4%), and unknown (3%). Local causes, besides an abundance of trauma, included six cases involving cysticercosis, four with wound botulism, and one with coccidiomycotic meningitis. Of 234 patients with diabetes, microvascular ischemia was the cause of TNP in only two-thirds (five had aneurysms) and 53% of those with diabetic microvascular ischemia had pupillary involvement-often bilateral, suggesting concomitant autonomic neuropathy. Only 2% of aneurysms spared the pupil. Apainful onset occurred with 94% of aneurysm and 69% of diabetic cases. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral TNPs, multiple cranial neuropathies, and accompanying neurological signs were common among our inpatients, as were causes rare in outpatient settings such as severe trauma, transtentorial herniation, midbrain strokes, and the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Few cases remained undiagnosed and nondiabetic ischemia was rare.

Recovery of third nerve palsy following surgical clipping of posterior communicating artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to identify the predictors of improved third cranial nerve (CN III) function in patients who underwent surgical clipping for posterior communicating artery (PComA) aneurysms with varying degrees of CN III palsy at presentation. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of the CN III function in a series of 26 patients with CN III dysfunction due to PComA aneurysms that were treated by surgical clipping. RESULTS: CN III palsy was complete in 18 patients (69%) and partial in 8 patients (31%) at the time of admission. In 15 patients (58%), there was total improvement of CN III function. Partial improvement was noted in 5 patients (19%). Overall improvement (partial and total) of CN III function was observed in 20 (77%) of the 26 patients. The improvement in CN III function following early surgery (0-3 days) was 81.3% when compared to 75% when surgery was performed after 3 days. In univariate analysis, the only variable showing significant association with total improvement of CN III function was type of third nerve palsy at admission (complete vs partial) (P=.004). There was no statistical significant association between early surgery and improvement of CN III function (P=.722). In multivariate analysis, among all the factors, the type of third nerve palsy at presentation (complete and partial) was the significant predictor of the improved CN III function (P=.0038). CONCLUSION: Surgical clipping of the PComA aneurysm in patients with CN III palsy results in improvement of the CN III function in the majority of patients. The type of the CN III palsy at admission (complete/partial) is a significant predictor of complete improvement in CN III function.

Splitting of the oculomotor nerve by the posterior communicating artery--case report.

A 62-year-old woman presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage manifesting as sudden onset of headache, but without visual symptoms or extraocular movement disturbances. Computed tomography angiography showed a 7-mm size aneurysm originating from the internal carotid-posterior communicating artery (PcomA). After the neck of the aneurysm was clipped, the PcomA was confirmed to have split the oculomotor nerve. Splitting of the oculomotor nerve by the PcomA was probably caused by arterial blood pulsation in the tortuous PcomA.

Third cranial nerve palsy or pseudo 3rd nerve palsy of myasthenia gravis? A challenging diagnosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Diplopia is frequently encountered in neurological practice and may occur as part of the clinical spectrum of 3rd cranial nerve palsy. Correct localization of the underlying problem is the first step in making an accurate diagnosis. Pathologies affecting the supranuclear structures, cranial nerves and nuclei, extraocular muscles and the neuromuscular junction may cause or simulate 3rd nerve palsy. We report a case of a patient with longstanding quiescent SLE who presented with sudden onset of diplopia and discuss possible aetiologies including ischemia, demyelination, neuromuscular conditions and medication-induced.

Isolated contralateral post-ictal oculomotor nerve palsy following supratentorial craniotomy. Case report.

The authors report the unique occurrence of an isolated post-ictal contralateral oculomotor nerve (OCN) palsy following excision of a medial frontal oligoastrocytoma. A 45-year-old male presented with a history of generalized tonic clonic seizures (GTCS) for 8 years. His neurological examination was unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a left frontopolar low grade glioma. Nine hours after an uneventful near total microsurgical excision, the patient had a GTCS, following which he was noted to have an isolated right-sided OCN palsy. The immediate post-ictal computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance images acquired 2 weeks after surgery failed to reveal any abnormality. The palsy had recovered completely by the 9-month follow-up.