[Value of plain x-ray procedures in the diagnosis of ocular muscle paralysis]

Out of 444 patients with paralysis of the eye muscles 187 were examined by plain X-ray films, 144 of were reviewed in order to address the question, whether the X-ray examination was able to elucidate etiology and pathogenesis of the paralysis. Of 444 patients we found positive results in only 14 per cent. Among traumatic, tumorous or inflammatory lesions we found positive results in 47 to 84 per cent of the patients, so that there was reasonable influence on the following diagnostic procedure. Plain films were rarely able to establish a definite diagnosis suitable for therapy. By comparison, computed tomography delivers additional information, so that special procedures could be omitted. In spite of that plain films of the skull should be the first step of the diagnostic algorithm, because they give the right direction to the subsequent expensive procedures.