Painful ophthalmoplegia

Abstract

Painful ophthalmoplegia refers to a multiple cranial nerve syndrome involving oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, and ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Among various etiologies of painful ophthalmoplegias, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, a relatively benign condition, used to be a diagnosis of exclusion. With advent of newer imaging techniques, it can now be considered as primary differential in painful ophthalmoplegias and patient can benefit with early introduction of steroids. We describe herein a patient with painful ophthalmoplegia in which early diagnosis was made, based on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Keywords

• Cranial nerve palsy
• painful ophthalmoplegia
• Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome