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Ramsay Hunt syndrome presenting as a cranial polyneuropathy
J Xanthopoulos1, G Noussios, D Papaioannides
1Department of Otolaryngology, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Acta Oto-Rhino-Laryngologica Belgica
|September 25, 2002
Summary
Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) can affect multiple cranial nerves, including the rarely involved XIIth cranial nerve. Early antiviral treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone led to significant improvement in a patient with this rare polycranial neuritis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) typically involves the facial (VII) and vestibulocochlear (VIII) cranial nerves.
- While other cranial nerves can be affected, involvement beyond VII and VIII is uncommon.
Observation:
- A case study of a 63-year-old woman diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
- This patient presented with involvement of multiple cranial nerves: V, VII, VIII, IX, and XII.
Findings:
- The patient experienced significant clinical improvement following treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone.
- This case highlights the potential for RHS to manifest as a polycranial neuritis, affecting sensory and motor nerves.
Implications:
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome should be considered a polycranial neuritis with potential for broader cranial nerve damage.
- The XIIth cranial nerve involvement in RHS, previously unreported, expands the known clinical spectrum of the syndrome.
- Prompt initiation of antiviral therapy may accelerate recovery in patients with RHS.