Delayed cranial nerve palsy after successful coil embolization in cavernous sinus lesion

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Cavernous sinus (CS) lesions pose surgical access challenges.
• Endovascular neurointervention offers an alternative to surgery for CS lesions.
• Coil embolization is a common endovascular technique for CS lesions.

Observation:

• While immediate complications of coil embolization are known, delayed complications are less understood.
• This report details two instances of delayed cranial nerve palsy occurring more than one year after treatment.

Findings:

• Delayed cranial nerve palsy is a rare but significant complication following endovascular coil embolization of cavernous sinus lesions.
• The exact mechanism for delayed palsy remains unclear but may involve chronic inflammation or device migration.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider delayed nerve palsy in the differential diagnosis for patients with a history of endovascular CS treatment.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the pathophysiology and develop preventative strategies for delayed complications.
• This highlights the importance of long-term patient follow-up after endovascular procedures.