[A case of alternating Tolosa-Hunt syndrome]

A 50-year-old woman developed third, fourth, and fifth cranial nerve palsies in the right associated with frontal pain in the ipsilateral side. Oral administration of prednisolone (30 mg/day) was initiated. The painful ophthalmoplegia improved dramatically following this treatment. Three months later, the patient developed the third, fourth, and fifth cranial palsies in the left which was contralateral to the previous episode. The patient had pain in the left frontal region. The corticosteroid therapy was again effective. Cavernous sinus and orbital venographies demonstrated a constriction of the right superior ophthalmic vein in the first and third parts, with a partial filling of the cavernous sinus. The left superior vein and cavernous sinus were normal. A left carotid arteriogram showed a slight deformity of the carotid siphon in the left. The glucose tolerance test demonstrated a mild diabetic pattern. Diabetic ophthalmoplegia can also be suspected in this case, however, the finding of a partial filling of the right cavernous sinus was indicative of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Therefore this case was diagnosed as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Alternating relapsing Tolosa-Hunt syndrome involving the third, fourth and fifth cranial nerve as seen in this case is very rare. There are many diseases which may demonstrate similar symptoms; i.e. parasellar tumor, aneurysm, diabetic ophthalmoplegia, multiple cranial neuropathy, etc. The pathologic process involved in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is poorly understood and it appears that the clinical entity of this syndrome should be questioned. We believe that it is necessary to clarify the precise pathologic process involved in this syndrome and its relation with other similar syndromes exhibiting similar symptoms.