Pupil Sparing Cranial Nerve III Palsy and Hemiparesis, Weber Syndrome: a Case Report and Literature Review, SPR, 2021, Volume 1, Issue, 4, Page No.: 216 – 219
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Sunuwar N, Twayana AR, Panthi S, Koirala A, Gautam S, Pupil sparing Cranial Nerve III Palsy and Hemiparesis, Weber Syndrome: A Case Report and literature review, SPR, 2021, Volume 1, issue, 4, Page No.: 216 – 219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.136 ISSN: 2635-0955 Case Report DOI: https://doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.136 Pupil sparing Cranial Nerve III Palsy and Hemiparesis, Weber Syndrome: A Case Report and literature review Neela Sunuwar1,*, Anu Radha Twayana2, Sagar Panthi1, Aakash Koirala1, Swotantra Gautam1 1BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Sunsari, Dharan, Nepal 2Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal *Corresponding Author: Dr. Neela Sunuwar, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Sunsari, Dharan, Nepal, Email: [email protected] Submission Date: 4/07/2021 Acceptance Date: 1/08/2021 Published Date: 6/08/2021 ABSTRACT Midbrain stroke especially Weber syndrome is a rare case seldom reported in the literature. It involves oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiparesis. A 46-year-old female presented with sudden onset of blurring of vision along with right-sided hemiparesis, right upper motor neuron type cranial nerve (CN) VII palsy, left-sided CN III palsy, and left-sided ptosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed T2 flair/hyperintensity in the left side of the midbrain, bilateral gangliocapsular regions, and centrum semiovale indicating acute infarct and chronic ischemic changes respectively as well as a high signal area on the T2/FLAIR sequence, indicating sinusitis. Ocular manifestations of a midbrain stroke are highlighted in this case study, particularly Weber syndrome, which also entails contralateral hemiparesis. A better prognosis can be achieved with early diagnosis and treatment. Keywords: Hemiparesis, Midbrain infarct, Oculomotor palsy, Weber syndrome. INTRODUCTION Weber syndrome is a type of superior erior cerebral artery. Hemorrhage, aneurysms, alternating hemiplegia that affects the tumors, and demyelinating disorders are some oculomotor fascicles in the interpeduncular of the less prevalent causes. Weber syndrome, cisterns and cerebral peduncle, resulting in like other strokes, is frequently associated with ipsilateral third nerve palsy and contralateral a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hyper- hemiparesis. 1 It is characterized by a charact- cholesterolemia. 3 eristic appearance of the left-sided third nerve There are some noteworthy exceptions in palsy with right-sided hemiplegia produced by weber syndrome to the clinical dictum that an an abrupt bleed in the left cerebral peduncle, as ischemic lesion causes pupil sparing in described by Hermann Weber.2 oculomotor nerve palsy while pupil The most common etiology of Weber involvement predicts compressive lesion. 4 Syndrome is the obstruction of a branch of the However, in Weber’s Syndrome pupils may or peduncular perforating branches of the post- may not be spared depending upon the area of This article has been published under the terms of CC BY-NC 4.0, which permits noncommercial unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the following statement is provided. “This article has been published in Science Progress and 216 Research at DOI https://doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.136 and can also be viewed on the Journal’s website at https://sprjonline.com/”. inciting insult; dilated unresponsive pupils present a case of pupil sparing oculomotor may occur if both upper and middle midbrain palsy with contralateral hemiparesis also are affected and pupils may be spared if only known as Weber syndrome which is a rare the lower midbrain is affected.1 Herein we phenomenon. Figure 1. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging axial T2-weighted image shows hyperintensity in the midbrain on the left side. Case report history included an eight-year history of type 2 A 46-year-old woman presented to the Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension both under emergency department with sudden onset of control with medications. The patient was blurring of vision and dizziness with spontaneous conscious and oriented. Her best-corrected visual resolution of both symptoms after an hour. She also acuity was 6/6 in both eyes. Ocular examination of reported headache, tingling sensation in the right the right eye was normal except for the limitation upper and lower limb, diplopia, and drooping of the of elevation in upgaze. The left eye showed left eyelid for the last two days. Her medical complete ptosis with down and out pupil with Citation: Sunuwar N, Twayana AR, Panthi S, Koirala A, Gautam S, Pupil sparing Cranial Nerve III Palsy and Hemiparesis, Weber Syndrome: A Case Report and literature review, SPR, 2021, Volume 1, issue, 4, Page No.: 217 216 – 219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52152/spr/2021.136 limitation of adduction, elevation, and depression. muscles, except the lateral rectus and the superior Convergence was impaired. However, the pupillary oblique. The oculomotor nucleus' filaments cross size and accommodation were unaffected. Slit- through the red nucleus to emerge on the medial lamp biomicroscopy of the anterior segment and side of the crus cerebri. The third nerve fascicle is fundus was normal. Color vision was normal in relatively separate. As a result, a lesion affecting both eyes. However, the patient could not complete the lower midbrain affects the extraocular muscles the visual field testing and diplopia charting. only and spares the pupils, whereas lesions Neurological examination revealed right-sided affecting both the upper and lower regions of the hemiparesis with right upper motor neuron type midbrain cause pupillary dilation as well. This cranial nerve (CN) VII palsy and left-sided CN III explains the patient's pupillary sparing in Weber's palsy. Reflexes were brisk on the right side with condition which is apparent in our case. 6 extensor plantar response. Coordination was As evidenced in the case, the patient presented normal, and no other cranial nerve abnormalities with a long history of diabetes indicating were detected. Examination of pulmonary and demyelination of the third cranial nerve with cardiovascular systems was within normal limits. A ipsilateral ptosis. The patient also reported provisional diagnosis of pupil sparing left eye CN contralateral upper and lower limb tingling III nerve palsy secondary to long-term diabetes was sensation and decreased strength observed on made and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinical evaluation. Similar to these findings, scan was ordered to rule out brain stem infarction Silverman et al found the oculomotor palsies at the and meningoencephalitis. level of the midbrain are either nuclear or MRI of the brain revealed T2 /fluid-attenuated fascicular: nuclear involves bilateral ptosis and inversion recovery in the left side of the midbrain contralateral superior rectus involvement while showing restriction on diffusion suggestive of the fascicular involves ipsilateral signs and symptoms.2 acute infarct. T2 hyperintensity in bilateral Therefore, we could conclude that the presence of gangliocapsular region and centrum semi-ovale ipsilateral ptosis in our patient is suggestive of without restriction on diffusion indicating chronic fascicular involvement at the level of the midbrain. ischemic changes and high signal area on T2/ Oculomotor palsy occurs either due to infarction, FLAIR sequence at left maxillary sinus suggestive demyelination, and tumors due to the occlusion of of sinusitis were found (Figure 1). Hence, a branches of the posterior cerebral artery. diagnosis of Weber syndrome was made. In comparison to CT scan, MRI is a more Clinical examination showed a pupil involving sensitive technique for detecting intracranial left third nerve palsy with upgaze palsy together disease. 7 In our case report, a CT scan was found with right hemiparesis which favored the final to be normal and the diagnosis of Weber syndrome diagnosis of Weber syndrome. was made only after MRI confirming its sensitivity to detect intracranial lesions. Tamhankar et al in DISCUSSION their study recommended early neuro-imaging as a Weber syndrome is a relatively uncommon general guideline in all patients presenting with midbrain stroke syndrome. The patient often acute solitary ocular motor palsies, particularly presents with partial oculomotor nurve palsy with when the patient presents to a non-specialist who ipsilateral ptosis and contralateral hemiparesis may fail to obtain a comprehensive history and lack often linked with a long-term history of diabetes the competence of a neuro-ophthalmologist. and hypertension. Subsequently, in the case, MRI observations of Ruchalski et al concluded that understanding hyperintensity in the left side of the midbrain, the functions and interconnections between the suggestive of acute infarction on the chronically several midbrain areas helps for a more accurate ischemic area, corroborated a final diagnosis of linkage of disease involvement and patient Weber syndrome, which traditionally appears as a symptoms. 3 Similarly, we found a connection combination of oculomotor palsy and contralateral between the symptom of the patient and the areas hemiparesis. involved in the midbrain. The patient was Besides pupil sparing, another unique finding of exhibiting normal pupillary activity despite ptosis this case report lies in the recovery of the patient of the left eye and weakness on the contralateral even though most brainstem lesions have a bad right side of the body. It could be comprehended by prognosis. Prompt initiation