Síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt, uma oftalmoplegia dolorosa / Tolosa Hunt Syndrome, a painful ophthalmoplegia

Resumo A síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt (STH) é uma doença rara caracterizada por oftalmoplegia dolorosa unilateral de início súbito causada por uma inflamação granulomatosa inespecífica no seio cavernoso ou fissura orbital superior (ou ambos). A oftalmoparesia ocorre quando os nervos cranianos III, IV e VI são acometidos pela inflamação. Disfunções pupilares podem estar presentes e está relacionado com acometimento das fibras simpáticas que passam pelo seio cavernoso na porção da artéria carótida interna ou fibras parassimpáticas ao redor do nervo oculomotor. O acometimento do primeiro ramo do trigêmeo pode provocar parestesia território correspondente à distribuição desde ramo (testa). Raramente, pode haver extensão da inflamação para além do seio cavernoso ou fissura orbital superior podendo acometer também o nervo óptico. Há uma boa resposta com o uso de corticoides e pode haver remissões espontâneas. Recidivas ocorrem em 40% dos casos. A doença é mais comum após a segunda década de vida. Afeta ambos os gêneros de forma igualitária. O presente estudo trata-se de um relato de caso de um paciente que se apresentou com oftalmoplegia dolorosa de início súbito à direita com 4 dias de evolução seguido de amaurose ipslateral após um dia do início da dor.

Abstract Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (STH) is a rare disease characterized by sudden onset unilateral painful ophthalmoplegia caused by non-specific granulomatous inflammation in the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure (or both). Ophthalmoparesis occurs when the cranial nerves III, IV and VI are affected by inflammation. Pupillary dysfunctions may be present and is related to involvement of the sympathetic fibers that pass through the cavernous sinus in the portion of the internal carotid artery or parasympathetic fibers around the oculomotor nerve. The involvement of the first branch of the trigeminal can cause paresthesia corresponding to the distribution from the first branch (forehead). Rarely, there may be extension of inflammation beyond the cavernous sinus or superior orbital fissure and may also affect the optic nerve. There is a good response with the use of corticosteroids and there may be spontaneous remissions. Relapses occur in 40% of cases. The disease is most common after the second decade of life. It affects both genders equally. The present study is a case report of a patient who presented with painful ophthalmoplegia of sudden onset on the right with 4 days of evolution followed by ipsilateral amaurosis after one day of onset of pain.

Recurrent Painful Ophthalmoplegic Neuropathy with Residual Mydriasis in an Adult: Should it Be Classified as Ophthalmoplegic Migraine?

Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON) is a rare condition that manifests as headache and ophthalmoplegia. It typically occurs in children. Although migraine or neuropathy have been suggested as etiologies, the precise etiology remains unclear. In the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition-beta version (ICHD3ß) (code 13.9), RPON was categorized into painful cranial neuropathies and other facial pains. We encountered a 48-year-old woman who had diplopia and right ptosis. The administration of prednisolone led to the immediate improvement of her oculomotor palsy, but residual mydriasis remained. Based on this case, the pathophysiology of RPON may involve temporary nerve inflammation with migraine. Repeated and severe migraine attacks may cause irreversible nerve damage. Thus, medication for migraine prophylaxis might be needed to prevent RPON.

Validation of ICHD-3 beta diagnostic criteria for 13.7 Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: Analysis of 77 cases of painful ophthalmoplegia.

BACKGROUND: Three editions of International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) diagnostic criteria for Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) have been published in 1988, 2004 and 2013, in ICHD-3 beta, there have been considerable changes [corrected]. The validity of these new diagnostic criteria remains to be established. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 77 patients with non-traumatic painful ophthalmoplegia (PO) admitted between 2003 and 2013. We reviewed patients' age at onset and gender, time courses between onset of pain and development of cranial nerve palsy, the cranial nerves involved, imaging findings, therapeutic efficacy of steroid treatment and recurrence of attacks. RESULTS: THS was the most frequent type of PO (46/77). In THS patients, the third cranial nerve was most commonly involved (76.3%). The median time interval between pain and cranial nerve palsy was two days, although in five patients (10.9%) the interval ranged from 16 to 30 days. Definitely abnormal MRI findings were found in 24 patients (52.2%). CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to rule out other causes of PO in diagnosing THS, with MRI playing a crucial role in differential diagnosis. It may be helpful to understand and master the entity of THS for researchers and clinicians to adjust the gradation and ranking of the diagnostic criteria.

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome: critical literature review based on IHS 2004 criteria.

In 2004, the International Headache Society (IHS) re-defined the diagnostic criteria of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) specifying that granuloma, demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or biopsy, is required for diagnosis. We reviewed the literature on THS published from 1988 (year of publication of first IHS criteria) to 2002, analysing individual cases in relation to the new IHS criteria. One hundred and twenty-four cases were identified. As far as it was possible to discern, clinical presentation was similar in all, but 44 (35%) were reported to have inflammation on MRI or bioptic evidence of granuloma, 41/124 (33%) had normal neuroimaging findings and 39 (31%) had a specific lesion, so the THS was secondary. These data confirm that clinical criteria for THS are common to several conditions and their application alone does not guarantee a correct diagnosis. The requirement for inflammation on MRI will result in better classification of painful ophthalmoplegias; nevertheless, an MRI protocol that best defines inflammation should be specified. The status of cases which fulfil the clinical criteria but have normal MRI remains to be clarified.