| Identifier |
005-1 |
| Title |
Third Nerve Palsy |
| Creator |
Shirley H. Wray, MD, PhD, FRCP |
| Contributors |
Steve Smith, Videographer |
| Affiliation |
(SHW) Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Director, Unit for Neurovisual Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Subject |
Ptosis; Third Nerve Palsy; Aberrant Reinnervation of the Third Nerve; Oculomotor Nerve; Parasellar Meningioma; Cavernous Sinus Syndrome; Unilateral Oculomotor Third Nerve Palsy; Unilateral Third Nerve Palsy |
| History |
This patient is a 58 year old woman from Peru who, in 1975, developed intermittent headaches and right retro-orbital eye pain. She was seen by several ophthalmologists in South America who were unable to make a diagnosis. In March 1977 she awoke one morning with vertical diplopia most marked on looking up. The diplopia persisted unchanged. She had no impairment of vision, ptosis or proptosis. In June 1977 she was hospitalized in Lima, Peru, under the care of a neurologist. At that time, she had partial ptosis of the right eye (OD). He suspected a diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis. She received no medication. In June 1978 ocular myasthenia was again considered. This time, by an ophthalmologist who documented an esotropia and intermittent hypertropia OD. In November 1978 the patient's brother, a physician in the US, referred her for further evaluation and she was seen in the Neurology Clinic at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and admitted. Neuro-Ophthalmological examination: Sense of smell intact Visual acuity 20/20 OU with normal color vision Visual fields and fundoscopic examination normal. Pupils equal, brisk to light and near Partial ptosis OD Palpebral fissure OD 7 mm, OS 10 mm. Range of levator function 12 mm OU No myasthenic lid twitch or increased ptosis on fatigue. No exophthalmos, eyes measured 16 OU base 96 with normal orbital resilience. Normal corneal reflex No ocular pulsation or bruit Ocular motility OD: Partial ptosis Paresis of the superior rectus and Inferior oblique (double elevator) Inferior rectus, medial rectus normal Superior oblique (cranial nerve 4) normal Lateral rectus (cranial nerve 6) normal Absent Bell's No signs of aberrant reinnvervation of the 3rd nerve Diagnosis: Compressive lesion of the third nerve (trunk) sparing the pupil. Differential Diagnosis: 1. Pituitary adenoma 2. Aneurysm of the intracavernous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) 3. Parasellar meningioma 4. Atypical craniopharyngioma 5. Chordoma CT scan showed a contrast enhancing mass with a horizontal diameter of 3 cm. in the right parasellar area in the middle fossa. The mass extended superiorly to obscure part of the chiasmatic cistern. The supraoptic portion of the third ventricle did not appear to be compromised. (Figures 1 and 2) X-rays of the skull, orbits and optic foramen showed no erosive changes and only a question of possible hyperostosis of the bone close to the anterior clinoid process. The superior orbital fissures were normal. Bilateral carotid angiogram by retrograde femoral artery catheter showed changes consistent with a meningioma, encasing the right supraclinoid ICA. (Figures 3) There was also displacement of the supraclinoid segment of the ICA medially and upward due to mass effect. The ophthalmic artery on the right side filled well and was visualized just beneath the level of the encased right ICA. (Figures 4 and 5) There was a vascular ‘blush' staining the mass.(Figures 6 and 7) Diagnosis: 1. Right parasellar meningioma 2. Partial third nerve (trunk) palsy sparing the pupil 3. Partial cavernous sinus syndrome 4. Encasement of the supraclinoid ICA. Neurosurgical Consultation: Conservative management without a biopsy was recommended. Treatment: She received radiation therapy, 5,050 Rads in 37 elapsed days treating 26 fractions during that time. Two portals were treated daily, a right superior oblique and a right lateral field to optimize dose distribution to the right parasellar region. She was treated using 10 MV X-rays with cerrobend cutouts. These were 6 cm. in diameter. Treatment was weighted one-to-one. The patient tolerated the treatment well and she was discharged. Follow-Up: Plans were made for her follow-up in Lima, Peru and every two years at the MGH. She returned in Oct 2002. The neuro-ophthalmological examination, which hitherto had been perfectly stable, showed new signs of aberrant reinnervation of the third nerve with increasing ptosis on abduction and elevation of the eyelid on adduction. Primary aberrant reinnervation (PAR) of the third nerve is a well recognized sign of chronic nerve compression by a cavernous sinus or parasellar meningioma or other mass lesion such as an ICA aneurysm within the sinus. PAR has also been reported with compression of the third nerve by a basilar artery aneurysm. Brain MRI 2002 showed a homogenous contrast enhancing extra axial mass arising from the right posterior clinoid sphenoid bone measuring 2.1 x 2.1 x 2.0 cm. (AP/SI/LR). (Figure 8) There was partial encasement of the right ICA at the siphon with slight narrowing of the vessel at this level. The mass abutted the right cavernous sinus and showed dark to iso-intense signal abnormalities on both the T1 and T2 images and relatively uniform enhancement consistent with a diagnosis of a meningioma. (Figure 9) There was superior displacement of the right optic chiasm and optic nerve and displacement of the medial aspect of the right temporal lobe laterally. A small dural tail extended along the right temporal pole. The mass showed no evidence of entry into the sella turcica and there was no deviation of the pituitary stalk. The sella appeared partially empty. MRA/Head showed mild narrowing of the right ICA siphon. The Circle of Willis was otherwise normal. |
| Anatomy |
The diagnosis of a third nerve palsy is straight forward but it is important to consider whether it is: 1. A nuclear lesion 2. A complete or partial lesion of the nerve trunk or a 3. Superior division of the third nerve or an 4. Inferior division of the third nerve A lesion involving the superior division of the third nerve results in paresis of the levator palpebrae muscle and the superior rectus so that the patient will have partial ptosis and paresis of elevation in the line of action of the superior rectus. A lesion involving the inferior division of the third nerve, involves all the extraocular muscles innervated by the third nerve, except the levator palpabrae and the superior rectus with or without pupil involvement. |
| Pathology |
Meningioma |
| Disease/Diagnosis |
Parasellar meningioma |
| Clinical |
This patient with a compressive lesion of the right third nerve trunk due to a parasellar meningioma, had: • A partial third nerve palsy • Partial ptosis OD • Paresis of the superior rectus (SR) and • Iinferior oblique (IO) • Inferior rectus and medial rectus normal • Superior oblique (cranial nerve 4) normal • Lateral rectus (cranial nerve 6) normal • Absent Bell's At this time she had no signs of aberrant reinnvervation of the third nerve. Comment: In 1980 Dr. John Taylor, a Postgraduate Fellow of mine, reviewed my collection of patients with a third nerve palsy and identified a common pattern of partial compression of the third nerve trunk causing paresis of SO and IO i.e double elevator palsy in cases with a partial cavernous sinus syndrome. (Personal communication Dr. John Taylor, unpublished data). Paresis of the IO distinguishes a double elevator palsy due to a trunk lesion of the third nerve from a superior division third nerve palsy which characteristically has • Paresis of the levator palpebrae superioris and • Paresis of the superior rectus muscle Review alongside this case: ID163-21 Nuclear third nerve palsy. ID919-2 Nuclear third nerve palsy with isolated bilateral ptosis ID166-25 Fascicular third nerve palsy - Claude's syndrome alongside this case. |
| Presenting Symptom |
Eye pain |
| Ocular Movements |
Ptosis; Third Nerve Palsy; Aberrant Reinnervation of the Third Nerve |
| Treatment |
Focal radiation therapy |
| Etiology |
Compression of the third nerve by a parasellar meningioma |
| Supplementary Materials |
Parasellar Meningioma: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2174227 |
| Date |
1980 |
| References |
1. Balkan R, Hoyt CS. Associated neurological abnormalities in congenital third nerve palsies. Am J Ophthalmol 1984;97:319. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6199980 2. Boghen D, Chartrand JP, Laflamme P, Kirkham T, Hardy J, Aube M. Primary aberrant third nerve regeneration. Ann Neurol 1979;6(5);415-418. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/518037 3. Braunstein JB, Vick NA. Meningiomas: the decision not to operate. Neurology 1997;48:1459-1462. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9153494 4. Cox TA, Wurster JB, Godfrey WA. Primary aberrant oculomotor regeneration due to intracranial aneurysm. Arch Neurol 1979;36(9):570-571. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/224847 5. Fernandez E, Pallini R, Gangitano C, Del Fa A, Sangiacomo, CO, Talamonti G, Draicchio F, Sbriccoli A. Oculomotor nerve regeneration in rats. Functional, histological and neuroanatomical studies. J Neurosurg 1987;67:428-437. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3612275 6. Guy, JR, Engel HM, Lessner Am. Acquired contralateral oculomotor synkinesis. Arch Neurol 1989;46:1021-1023. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2775007 7. Iwabuchi T, Suzuki M, Nakaoka T, Suzuki S. Oculomotor nerve anastomosis. Neurosurgery 1982;10:490-491. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7099398 8. Jordan DR, Miller DG, Anderson RL. Acquired oculomotor-abducens synkinesis. Can J Ophthalmol 1990;25:148-151. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2361197 9. Kim DK, Grieve J, Archer DJ, Utttley D. Meningiomas in the region of the cavernous sinus: a review of 21 patients. Br. J Neurosurg 1996;10:439-444. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8922701 10. Knosp E, Perneczky A, Koos WT, Fries G, Matula C. Meningiomas of the space of the cavernous sinus. Neurosurgery 1996;38:434-442. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8837793 11. Laguna JF, Smith MS. Aberrant regeneration in idiopathic oculomotor nerve palsy. J Neurosurg 1980;52:854-856. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7381547 12. Leigh RJ, Zee DS. Diagnosis of Peripheral Ocular Motor Palsies and Strabismus. Ch 9:385-474. In: The Neurology of Eye Movements, Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press, NY 2006. 13. Lepore FE, Glaser JS. Misdirection revisted. A critical appraisal of acquired oculomotor nerve synkinesis. Arch Ophthalmol 1980;98:2206-2209. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7447776 14. Messe SR, Shin RK, Liu GT, Galetta SL, Volpe NJ. Oculomotor synkinesis following a midbrain stroke. Neurology 2001;57:1106-1107. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11571345 15. Schatz NJ, Savino PJ, Corbett JJ. Primary aberrant oculomotor regeneration. A sign of intracavernous meningioma. Arch Neurol 1977;34(1):29-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/831685 16. Sebag J, Sadun AA. Aberrant regeneration of the third nerve following orbital trauma. Arch Neurol 1983;40:762-764. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6625995 17. Sibony PA, Lessell S. Transient oculomotor synkinesis in temporal arteritis. Arch Neurol 1984;41:87-88. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6689897 18. Sibony PA, Lessell S, Gittinger JW Jr. Acquired oculomotor synkinesis. Surv Ophthalmol 1984;28(5):382-390. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6372143 19. Slavin ML, Einberg KR. Abduction defect associated with aberrant regeneration of the oculomotor nerve after intracranial aneurysm. Am J Ophthalmol 1996;121(5):580-582. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8610809 20. Varma R, Miller NR. Primary oculomotor synkinesis caused by an extracavernous intradural aneurysm. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;118:83-87. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8023880 |
| Language |
eng |
| Format |
video/mp4 |
| Type |
Image/MovingImage |
| Source |
3/4" Umatic master videotape |
| Relation is Part of |
167-8, 940-3 |
| Collection |
Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library: Shirley H. Wray Collection: https://novel.utah.edu/Wray/ |
| Publisher |
North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society |
| Holding Institution |
Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah |
| Rights Management |
Copyright 2002. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit: https://NOVEL.utah.edu/about/copyright |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6n61hx5 |
| Setname |
ehsl_novel_shw |
| ID |
188587 |
| Reference URL |
https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6n61hx5 |
