Acute abducens nerve palsy from a complex retro-odontoid pseudotumor with a protrusion: A case report

Justin Sardi, MD; Alexander Chavez-Yenter, MD; Linda C. Wendell, MD; J. Pierre Sasson, MD; Monica J. Wood, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Jan 2024)

Acute abducens nerve palsy from a complex retro-odontoid pseudotumor with a protrusion: A case report

Justin Sardi, MD,
Alexander Chavez-Yenter, MD,
Linda C. Wendell, MD,
J. Pierre Sasson, MD,
Monica J. Wood, MD

Affiliations

Justin Sardi, MD: Department of Radiology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA; Corresponding author.
Alexander Chavez-Yenter, MD: Department of Radiology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
Linda C. Wendell, MD: Division of Neurology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
J. Pierre Sasson, MD: Department of Radiology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
Monica J. Wood, MD: Department of Radiology, Mount Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 326 – 329

Abstract

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Retro-ondontoid pseudotumors represent soft tissue proliferation surrounding the transverse ligament of the atlas, which most commonly results in cervical neck pain or myelopathy due to impingement upon the cervicomedullary junction. The causes of retro-odontoid pseudotumor formation are varied and include metabolic, inflammatory, degenerative, and post-traumatic etiologies. To the best of our knowledge, an abducens nerve palsy as a result of a complex retro-odontoid pseudotumor has never been reported. We discuss a case of a 90-year-old woman who presents with acute lateral gaze palsy with multimodality imaging demonstrating a retro-odontoid pseudotumor with an unusual protrusion which courses superolaterally to the level of the pons and compresses the abducens nerve root entry zone.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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