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Facebook: can it be a diagnostic tool for neurologists?
Manoj K Mittal1, Jeff A Sloan, Alejandro A Rabinstein
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. drmanojkumarmittal@gmail.com
BMJ Case Reports
|August 24, 2012
Summary
A stroke patient with facial changes like drooping eyelids was diagnosed with Horner syndrome. Comparing her current face to old Facebook photos helped determine the onset of her neurological signs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Acute ischemic stroke presentation requires prompt diagnosis and management.
- Facial neurological signs can be subtle and difficult to assess without baseline comparisons.
Observation:
- A 56-year-old female presented with acute ischemic stroke (NIHSS 13).
- She exhibited right-sided ptosis (drooping eyelid) and miosis (pupil constriction).
- Uncertainty existed regarding the recent onset of these facial changes.
Findings:
- Comparison with her Facebook profile pictures revealed no prior ptosis or miosis.
- This facilitated the diagnosis of acute Horner syndrome.
- The temporal discrepancy in facial signs was key to diagnosis.
Implications:
- Social media platforms like Facebook can serve as valuable tools for neurologists.
- Utilizing historical images can aid in determining the timing of neurological symptom onset.
- This approach may improve diagnostic accuracy for conditions with evolving facial manifestations.
