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Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Recurrent abducens nerve palsy associated with neurovascular compression
Hirotaka Kato1, Masashi Nakajima, Yohei Ohnaka
1Department of Neurology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|July 13, 2010
Summary
Recurrent episodes of transient diplopia were linked to isolated abducens nerve palsy. Neurovascular compression at the brain stem exit point is a potential cause for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
Background:
- Recurrent isolated abducens nerve palsy can present with transient diplopia.
- The etiology of such recurrent palsies is not always clear.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old man experienced five episodes of transient diplopia over 16 months.
- Each episode involved isolated left abducens palsy lasting 2 weeks to 3 months.
Findings:
- Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and imaging revealed neurovascular compression of the left abducens nerve at its brain stem exit.
- The absence of preceding headache or fever was noted.
Implications:
- Neurovascular compression is proposed as a potential cause of recurrent, isolated abducens nerve palsy.
- This finding may aid in diagnosing and understanding similar cases of intermittent cranial nerve dysfunction.
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