539

Isolated Ocular Motor Nerve Palsies

Nathan H. Kung, MD1 Gregory P. Van Stavern, MD2

1 Department of , Washington University in St. Louis, St. Address for correspondence Gregory P. Van Stavern, MD, Department Louis, Missouri of and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Washington University in St. Louis, Louis, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8096, Saint Louis, St. Louis, Missouri Missouri, 63110 (e-mail: [email protected]).

Semin Neurol 2015;35:539–548.

Abstract An isolated ocular motor nerve palsy is defined as dysfunction of a single ocular motor nerve (oculomotor, trochlear, or abducens) with no associated or localizing neurologic signs or symptoms. When occurring in patients aged 50 or older, the most common Keywords cause is microvascular ischemia, but serious etiologies such as , malignancy, ► ocular motility and should always be considered. In this article, the authors review the ► clinical approach, anatomy, and differential diagnosis of each isolated ocular motor ► microvascular nerve palsy and discuss the clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and treatment of ischemia microvascular ischemia.

The approach to the adult patient aged 50 years and older itself may also cause diplopia. Accordingly, the approach to with an isolated ocular motor nerve palsy begins with a the adult patient with the new onset of diplopia begins with a thorough assessment of the patient’shistoryandneuro- thorough assessment of the history and neuro-ophthalmic – ophthalmic examination. The goal is localization to the examination.1 5 The important questions in assessing diplo- specific dysfunctional nerve and generation of a differential pia include whether it is monocular or binocular; whether the diagnosis. In this context, “isolated” means a single ocular diplopia is primarily horizontal, torsional, or vertical; in motor nerve (oculomotor, trochlear, or abducens) is affect- which direction of gaze the diplopia is maximal; whether ed and there are no associated or localizing neurologic signs there is any fatigability or diurnal variation in the severity of or symptoms. Following the accurate identification of the the diplopia; whether there is any associated or facial involved nerve, one can then use the best available evi- muscle weakness; whether it is constant or intermittent; and dencetodeterminetheyieldofneuroimagingandother whether there are any other localizing symptoms such as ancillary testing in ruling out structural or other malignant involvement of other , limb weakness, ataxia, causes of isolated palsies. If the cause is determined to be proptosis, or impairment in visual acuity or color perception microvascular, then the focus turns to identification of (see ►Table 1). The abrupt onset of sustained diplopia is more associated risk factors, the likelihood of improvement, suggestive of a microvascular event than progressive or and the use of patching, prisms, or surgical strategies to chronic intermittent diplopia. As a general rule, all patients correct residual diplopia. We will discuss each of these over the age of 50 years should also be assessed for signs and steps and review the approach to each of the isolated ocular symptoms of giant cell arteritis, which can occasionally motor nerve palsies. present with diplopia.6 The most important initial question in evaluating double Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material. Approach to Diplopia and Localization vision is to determine whether it is monocular or binocular in etiology. Ask the patient whether the symptom resolves by Binocular diplopia due to ocular misalignment may occur due closing either eye. If closing either eye resolves the abnormal- to lesions of the supranuclear, internuclear, nuclear, intra- ity, this indicates misalignment of the eyes (). If medullary fascicular, or extramedullary formed portions of a closing only one particular eye resolves the diplopia, this cranial nerve. Once the cranial nerve reaches its target, a suggests an ocular problem isolated to the affected eye such disorder of the neuromuscular junction or extraocular muscle as or ocular surface disease.

Issue Theme Neuro-Ophthalmology; Copyright © 2015 by Thieme Medical DOI http://dx.doi.org/ Guest Editor: Beau B. Bruce, MD, PhD Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, 10.1055/s-0035-1563568. New York, NY 10001, USA. ISSN 0271-8235. Tel: +1(212) 584-4662. 540 Isolated Ocular Motor Nerve Palsies Kung, Van Stavern

Table 1 Diplopia: Historical clues to etiology unilateral weakness of should help determine which muscle is affected. Notably, each eye should be tested Monocular or binocular independently to remove pseudorestrictive effects related to Horizontal, vertical, or torsional alternating monocular fixation and vergence when both eyes Gaze direction of maximal diplopia are open. When red flag symptoms other than diplopia are promi- Fatigability or diurnal variation nent, common mimics of isolated ocular motor nerve palsies Presence of ptosis or facial weakness should be considered (see ►Table 2). The presence of fatiga- Constant or episodic bility, ptosis, facial weakness, proximal weakness, and diurnal Presence of any other neurologic symptoms variation with symptoms worse late in the day suggests . The presence of proptosis, periorbital edema, and diurnal variation with symptoms early in the morning suggests thyroid , which can occur even in the clinically euthyroid state.7 The presence of afferent with involvement suggests an Binocular diplopia should be further characterized as orbital apex syndrome.8 The gradual onset of episodic diplo- horizontal, suggesting sixth nerve involvement (lateral recti); pia with longstanding transient diplopia and head tilt sug- vertical, suggesting third or fourth nerve involvement (verti- gests decreasing fusional reserve and decompensated cal recti and obliques); or predominantly torsional, suggest- congenital strabismus.2 ing fourth involvement (superior oblique). If a patient can In hospitalized patients, the concurrent onset of ophthal- identify the direction of gaze with maximal diplopia, knowl- moplegia with altered mental status, ataxia, and edge of the yoked eye muscles in each cardinal direction of suggests thiamine deficiency, which may occur in alcoholics, gaze can help to identify the affected muscle and nerve malnourished patients, and other at-risk patient popula- (see ►Fig. 1). Horizontal diplopia worse in right gaze suggests tions.9 A similar picture could be seen with anticonvulsant weakness of the right lateral rectus or left medial rectus, intoxication.10 The combination of areflexia, bulbar weak- whereas horizontal diplopia worse in left gaze suggests ness, and diplopia suggests Miller-Fisher syndrome, a subtype weakness of the left lateral rectus or right medial rectus. A of Guillain-Barré syndrome.11 Wound or foodborne botulism Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material.

Fig. 1 Yoked muscles in each cardinal direction of gaze. SR, superior rectus; IO, inferior oblique; IR, inferior rectus; LR, lateral rectus; MR, medial rectus. Available at: http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/eom.html. Accessed March 23, 2015. (Reprinted with permission from Ted Montgomery.)

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Table 2 Diplopia “red flags”: Clues to a nonmicrovascular etiology

Ptosis, fatigability, facial weakness Proptosis, periorbital edema Afferent visual impairment Ataxia, ophthalmoplegia Areflexia, facial weakness Fig. 2 The primary and secondary actions of each extraocular muscle. SR, superior rectus; IO, inferior oblique; IR, inferior rectus; LR, lateral New centrally acting medications rectus; MR, medial rectus. should be considered in adults with diplopia and descending subarachnoid space. Once in the subarachnoid space, the weakness.12 Other less common causes of diplopia such as third nerve passes between the superior cerebellar and Friedrich ataxia, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, Wilson disease, posterior cerebral arteries and travels anteriorly near the Whipple disease, or other metabolic conditions should also posterior communicating artery and uncus of the ipsilateral be considered.13 temporal lobe. It then pierces the dura and travels in the ipsilateral on its way to the superior orbital fi fi Anatomy of the Ocular Motor Nerves ssure, where the nerve bers enter the and meet their respective target muscles within the region of the orbital – The innervates the superior rectus, inferior apex.14 17 rectus, medial rectus, and inferior oblique. The trochlear The fourth nerve nucleus is situated in the lower nerve innervates the superior oblique, and the abducens at the level of the inferior colliculus, near the midline, just nerve innervates the lateral rectus. The primary and second- anterior to the cerebral aqueduct. There is one nucleus on ary actions of each muscle are depicted in ►Fig. 2 and each side, corresponding to the cell bodies of the neurons described in ►Table 3. Of note, in-cyclotorsion describes comprising each . In contrast to the third rotation of the superior pole of each eye toward the nose, nerve fascicles, which course anteriorly, the fourth nerve whereas ex-cyclotorsion describes rotation of the superior fascicles course posteriorly around the cerebral aqueduct pole toward the lateral canthus. and cross the midline posteriorly to emerge from the - The third nerve nuclei are situated in the upper midbrain stem contralaterally just past the vertical midline. The sub- at the level of the superior colliculus, near the vertical arachnoid segment of the trochlear nerve then courses midline, just anterior to the cerebral aqueduct. Each levator around the midbrain and passes anteriorly along the edge palpebrae is supplied by one unpaired midline nucleus, but of the cerebellar tentorium. When it pierces the dura, it then each ocular muscle supplied by the third nerve has a paired travels in this contralateral cavernous sinus on its way to the subnucleus on each side of the midline. The exception is the superior orbital fissure, where it meets the superior oblique – medial rectus, which has three subnuclei on each side. The muscle within the region of the orbital apex.14 17 axons arising from each subnucleus (collectively known as The sixth nerve nucleus is situated in the lower pons, near the third nerve fascicle) then travel ipsilaterally in a topo- the midline, just anterior to the floor of the fourth ventricle. graphic distribution through the anterior portions of the There is one nucleus on each side, corresponding to the cell midbrain, passing through the red nucleus and cerebral bodies of the neurons comprising each . Of peduncle, to form the third nerve within the subarachnoid interest is that the fascicle of the seventh nerve courses just space. The exception is the superior rectus subnucleus, which posterior to the nucleus of the sixth nerve, such that it is sends its axons contralaterally through the opposite superior nearly impossible to lesion the sixth nerve nucleus without rectus subnucleus before joining that contralateral third causing an ipsilateral seventh nerve palsy.8 The sixth nerve nerve fascicle going through the anterior midbrain into the fascicles course anteriorly through the medial lemniscus and Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material.

Table 3 The primary and secondary actions of each extraocular muscle

Nerve Muscle Primary action Secondary action Oculomotor nerve Superior rectus Elevation In-cyclotorsion Inferior rectus Depression Ex-cyclotorsion Medial rectus Adduction Inferior oblique Ex-cyclotorsion Elevation Trochlear nerve Superior oblique In-cyclotorsion Depression Abducent nerve Lateral rectus Abduction

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emerge anteriorly at the ipsilateral pontomedullary junction. , syphilis, herpes zoster, meningitis, encephalitis, The nerve then ascends in the subarachnoid space between , , lupus, , neurosurgical the pons and clivus and passes anteriorly through Dorello’s intervention, myelography, influenza, Tolosa-Hunt syn- – canal. It then pierces the dura and travels in this ipsilateral drome, and Paget’s disease.19 21 To provide scope, of the cavernous sinus on its way to the superior orbital fissure, 1,130 retrospective cases of third nerve palsy reported by where it meets the within the region of the Mayo clinic from the 1950s to the 1980s for patients of all – the orbital apex.14 17 age groups, 270 were due to undetermined causes, 225 were Each ocular motor nerve can be affected anywhere along its due to microvascular ischemia, 179 were due to aneurysm, course, from the nucleus, to the fascicle, to the nerve in the 166 were due to head trauma, 141 were due to neoplasm, and subarachnoid space, to the nerve in the cavernous sinus, all the 149 were due to other causes.22 It should be noted that these way into the orbital apex. When multiple cranial nerves are cases were not evaluated by modern neuroimaging techni- involved, the localization may be evident based on knowledge ques; however, so small compressive lesions may have been of where nerves travel together, or based on other localizing missed. This same limitation applies to the retrospective clues. For example, the cavernous sinus contains cranial nerves series of fourth and sixth nerve palsies from the Mayo clinic (CNs) III, IV, VI, V1, V2, and sympathetic autonomic fibers described in later sections of this review. traveling along the carotid artery. The orbital apex contains Many of the above causes of third nerve palsy will have CNs II, III, IV, VI, V1, as well as the sympathetic autonomic overt systemic manifestations with additional signs and fibers. Diffuse infiltrative processes such as lymphoma or symptoms.23 When occurring in clinical isolation in adults carcinomatosis may involve multiple CNs, including the lower 50 years of age and older, however, microvascular ischemia CNs such as VII, IX, X, or XII, within the subarachnoid space on and aneurysm comprise a majority of cases and therefore – the leptomeningeal surface of the brain. Otorrhea with sixth warrant special discussion.24 26 nerve palsy suggests petrous apicitis, whereas the presence of The third cranial nerve is unique due to its association with – hemiparesis or ataxia suggests brainstem involvement.14 17 the urgent, potentially life-threatening complication of an When an ocular motor nerve is affected in isolation, enlarging aneurysm, classically of the posterior communicat- however, there are generally few clues to its localization, ing artery. Fibers mediating pupillary constriction course and neuroimaging may be required to assist in the localiza- along the outer portions of the nerve and thus suggest tion of the . Critical factors that inform the need for impingement when affected.17 Therefore, patients with third neuroimaging and contribute to the differential diagnosis nerve palsy and any degree of pupillary involvement require include the patient’s age, the tempo and duration of onset, the urgent vascular imaging of the head to rule out an expanding presence or absence of pain, any associated medical condi- aneurysm, though approximately one-third of patients with tions, and for third nerve palsy, the status of the .1 microvascular ischemia may also have some involvement of the pupil. In these cases, however, the degree of is < 27,28 Evaluation of Oculomotor Nerve Palsy typically 1 mm, and the pupil remains reactive. Patients with preserved pupillary function may still be at Physical Examination risk of harboring an aneurysm if they have incomplete paresis Third nerve palsies, when complete or nearly complete, cause of the innervated or if the ptosis is not the affected eye to adopt a “down-and-out” position due to complete because the third nerve palsy may still be in intact function of the superior oblique and lateral rectus, progression.29 The patients at lowest risk of harboring an which tend to depress and abduct the eye. Significant weak- aneurysm are those with complete preservation of pupillary ness of elevation, depression, and adduction is expected. function in the setting of complete ptosis, complete paresis of Many third nerve palsies are “incomplete,” with not all the innervated extraocular muscles, and appropriate vascu- innervated muscles affected or less than complete weakness lopathic risk factors to suggest microvascular ischemia. These of each affected muscle. Isolated weakness of a single extra- patients still require close clinical follow-up, however, to ocular muscle is rare, however, and suggests an alternate ensure that pupillary involvement does not ensue.29 etiology such as myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye disease, local Although the details of the extraocular muscle examinations Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material. restriction from trauma, or an internuclear ophthalmople- are not fully reported, two large retrospective series suggest that gia.1 Similarly, isolated pupillary dilation rarely implies third between 2 to 3% of patients harboring an aneurysm may have no nerve dysfunction, and usually represents tonic pupil, phar- pupillary involvement. Rucker reported a total of 4 out of 114 macologic , or even benign physiologic anisocoria.18 patients with aneurysmal compression of the third nerve that In the setting of adduction weakness from a third nerve did not have pupillary involvement.19,20 Keane reported that palsy, the residual function of the fourth nerve should be only 2 of 143 patients with aneurysmal compression of the third assessed by asking the patient to abduct the eye and then nerve did not have pupillary involvement.27 depress it, looking carefully at scleral vessels for in-cyclo- torsion mediated by the superior oblique. Neuroimaging Three recent studies have prospectively assessed the yield of Etiologies urgent neuroimaging in evaluating acute isolated third nerve Oculomotor dysfunction may result from many causes, in- palsies in patients 50 years of age or older. These three studies cluding microvascular ischemia, aneurysm, head trauma, performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations

Seminars in Neurology Vol. 35 No. 5/2015 Isolated Ocular Motor Nerve Palsies Kung, Van Stavern 543 on consecutive patients with acute isolated third, fourth, or oblique. Sometimes, the use of a red-colored traditional- sixth nerve palsies who presented without trauma, recent ly placed over the right eye can help the patient to distinguish neurosurgical intervention, active malignancy, or any other the direction of gaze that gives them the greatest degree of localizing signs and symptoms other than nonspecifichead- misalignment. The affected eye cannot always reliably be ache or pain. The series of third nerve palsy patients are distinguished using this red lens test, however, due to the presented here, and the series of fourth and effects of alternating monocular fixation. patients are presented under their respective sections. Resolution of diplopia with head tilt away from a hyper- Chou et al found that 4 of 29 cases of acute isolated third tropic eye suggests that the diplopia may be the result of a nerve palsy (14%) were due to causes other than microvascular in the higher eye. A left fourth nerve palsy ischemia.24 Specifically, one was due to neoplasm, one was due should also show an increased degree of left to a brainstem infarct, and two were due to aneurysm. All other when looking to the right, whereas a right fourth nerve palsy cases (86%) were determined to be due to microvascular should show an increased degree of right hypertropia when ischemia. Notably, seven of nine patients with pupillary in- looking to the left.31,32 volvement were determined to have microvascular ischemia, Use of a Maddox rod can help to confirm a fourth nerve with > 2 mm of anisocoria in three of these seven patients. palsy by determining ocular cyclotorsion. When holding the One patient with aneurysm had pupillary sparing with only Maddox rod with lines oriented in the up-and-down direc- partial extraocular muscle involvement. Murchison et al found tion, the patient will see a horizontal line in that eye. When no structural etiologies in 14 consecutive patients with acute held in front of a hypertropic eye, the patient with fourth isolated third nerve palsy.25 Tamhankar et al found that 3 of 22 nerve palsy will see the line as angled downwards nasally cases (14%) were due to causes other than microvascular (representing ex-cyclotorsion of the eye), whereas the patient ischemia, including pituitary apoplexy and idiopathic en- with central skew deviation will see the line as angled hancement of the third nerve, which later resolved.26 upwards nasally (representing in-cyclotorsion of the eye). Jacobson and Trobe previously explored the risk of harbor- ing an aneurysm in the setting of a negative magnetic Etiologies resonance angiogram (MRA).30 In their literature review, Trochlear nerve dysfunction has a wide variety of etiologies, they found that most well-documented posterior communi- including head trauma, malignancy, microvascular ischemia, cating causing third nerve palsies were  5mm encephalitis, lupus, herpes zoster, , multiple sclerosis, – in size rather than < 5 mm in size (91.3% vs. 8.7%). Further- postviral, and aneurysm.19 21 To provide scope, of the 578 more, when compared directly with catheter angiography, retrospective cases of fourth nerve palsy reported by the Mayo MRA was able to pick up nearly all aneurysms  5mm in size clinic from the 1950s to the 1980s for patients of all age groups, versus < 5 mm (97% vs. 53.6%). Because the risk of rupture is 186 were due to undetermined causes, 169 were due to head lower for smaller aneurysms, however, a mathematical inter- trauma, 103 were due to presumed microvascular ischemia, 28 pretation of the data suggests that a properly performed and were due to neoplasm, 5 were due to aneurysm, and 87 were interpreted MRA will overlook only 1.5% of aneurysms which due to other causes, including congenital palsy with decom- cause third nerve palsy and that will go on to rupture during pensation in 79 of these 87 cases.22 Many of these causes of the next 8 years if untreated. Clinical follow-up should help to fourth nerve palsy will have overt systemic manifestations alleviate concerns of an undetected enlarging aneurysm, as with additional signs and symptoms. When head trauma and affected patients should fail to recover or begin to develop congenital causes are excluded, however, most fourth nerve signs of aberrant regeneration.29 It should be noted that this palsies occurring in clinical isolation in adults 50 years of age review was performed before the advent of computed tomog- and older are due to presumed microvascular ischemia.22,33 raphy (CT) angiography and higher resolution magnetic resonance (MR) angiography techniques, which likely have Neuroimaging greater sensitivity for detecting small aneurysms. In the subsets of patients with acute isolated fourth nerve palsy in the three previously mentioned studies, Chou et al found that Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material. Evaluation of Trochlear Nerve Palsy only 1 of 14 cases was due to a cause other than microvascular ischemia. Specifically, only one neoplasm was detected. All other Physical Examination cases (93%) were determined to be due to microvascular ische- Trochlear nerve palsies result in vertical diplopia with a mia.24 Murchison et al assessed 27 consecutive patients and did resting hypertropia (i.e., relative elevation) of the affected not detect any diagnoses other than microvascular ischemia.25 eye. Alternate cover testing using prisms remains the gold Tamhankar et al found that 3 of 25 cases (12%) were due to standard for diagnosing fourth nerve palsies. Prisms are not causes other than microvascular ischemia, including one patient always readily available, however, and require some expertise with an infarct in the dorsal midbrain.26 to use. When ocular misalignment is mild or not apparent from viewing resting eye positions, vertical diplopia worst Evaluation of Abducens Nerve Palsy when placing the right eye in the down-and-in position suggests involvement of the right superior oblique, whereas Physical Examination vertical diplopia worst when placing the left eye in the down- Abducens nerve palsies result in horizontal diplopia and will and-in position suggests involvement of the left superior show a unilateral weakness of abduction in the affected eye. It

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is important to test each eye independently because of the Table 4 Neuroimaging recommendations pseudo-restrictive effects of alternating monocular fixation and vergence when both eyes are open. Magnetic resonance brain and orbits with and without gadolinium: Etiologies If aged < 50 years Sixth cranial nerve dysfunction has many causes, including If found to have pupil-involving or pupil-sparing head trauma, malignancy, microvascular ischemia, aneurysm, partial third nerve palsy meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, syphilis, polio- If known to have cancer of any type at any time myelitis, , cavernous-carotid fistula, idiopathic If any other localizing signs or symptoms intracranial , intracranial hypotension, sub- arachnoid hemorrhage, intraparenchymal hematoma, and If not improved by 1 month – neurosurgical intervention.19 21 In the retrospective cases If not resolved by 3 months of sixth nerve palsy reported by the Mayo clinic from the 1950s to the 1980s for patients of all age groups, 504 were due to an undetermined cause, 413 were due to neoplasm, 287 were due to head trauma, 240 were due to presumed micro- A wider approach to neuroimaging with MRI/MRA per- vascular ischemia, 58 were due to aneurysm, and 417 were formed on all or nearly all patients presenting with acute due to other causes.22 isolated third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsies is also reason- able if the resources are available and both the physician and Neuroimaging patient desire a more expeditious and definitive initial eval- Chou et al found that 4 of 23 cases of acute isolated sixth uation.35 A referral to a neuro-ophthalmologist could also be nerve palsy (17%) were due to causes other than microvas- considered to screen for subtle motility deficits that might cular ischemia, including one neoplasm, one brainstem implicate another ocular motor nerve or suggest an alternate infarct, one new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and one diagnosis. With all ocular motor nerve palsies, MRI is the case of unexpected pituitary apoplexy.24 Murchison et al preferred neuroimaging modality. Fat-saturated orbital im- detected only one relevant structural finding, a pontine aging should also be included, as this sequence will allow hemorrhage, in 52 consecutively studied patients (2%). better evaluation of the cavernous sinus and intraorbital Three incidental findings were noted, however, including portions of the ocular motor nerves. a contralateral acoustic neuroma, a contralateral meningi- Once the neuroimaging is performed, it should be person- oma, and a maxillary sinus tumor.25 Tamhankar et al ally reviewed; one study found that 38% of patients arriving to determined that 12 of 62 cases (19%) were due to causes an academic neuro-ophthalmology practice with pre-exist- other than microvascular ischemia, including one case of ing neuroimaging had incorrect or suboptimal imaging stud- cavernous sinus B cell lymphoma, one case of petroclival ies (e.g., CTwas performed where MRI was required, or where , and three cases of GCA diagnosed on the basis the image quality was inadequate to definitively rule out a of an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ele- suspected lesion).36 Studies have also shown that radiologists vated C-reactive protein (CRP), and positive temporal ar- or observers without specific training in neuroradiology may tery biopsies.26 miss relevant findings on MRI or MRA, especially when the In one additional study of patients with acute isolated radiologist is given insufficient information to focus on the sixth nerve palsy, Bendszus et al prospectively assessed 43 area of suspected pathology.37 consecutive patients aged 2 to 82 years and found a causative If neuroimaging is initially deferred, a lack of resolution by lesion in 63% of patients.34 The median age of the study group 3 months, or failure to demonstrate any recovery by one was 48 years, however, younger than in the three previously month, should prompt further investigations including neu- mentioned prospective neuroimaging studies that only eval- roimaging.35 Of note, there have been several reported cases uated patients aged 50 years and older. of spontaneously remitting sixth nerve palsies in the setting of skull base tumors, however, thereby emphasizing the need Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material. Neuroimaging Recommendations to take all clinical factors into account when determining the need for neuroimaging.38 Given the above recent prospective data and unique disease associations of each particular cranial nerve palsy, a reason- High-Resolution Neuroimaging Techniques able conservative approach would be to follow the guidelines previously proposed by Murchison et al.25 Patients should Many clinical studies of the yield of neuroimaging, including receive an MRI in the setting of an acute isolated third, fourth, several of the studies previously discussed, have relied on the or sixth cranial nerve palsy if any of the following criteria are use of traditional MRI techniques and sequences to evaluate met: (1) age < 50 years, (2) found to have a pupil-involving or for tumors, aneurysms, and , largely considered to be any pupil-sparing partial third nerve palsy, (3) known to have the most worrisome structural abnormalities in the setting of a history of cancer of any type at any time, or (4) found to have a cranial nerve palsy. However, more recent high-resolution any other concerning or localizing neurologic signs or symp- three-dimensional (3D) sequences, including constructive toms (see ►Table 4). interference in the steady state (CISS), fast imaging employing

Seminars in Neurology Vol. 35 No. 5/2015 Isolated Ocular Motor Nerve Palsies Kung, Van Stavern 545 steady-state acquisition (FIESTA), turbo-spin-echo with vari- imaging correlate. Although a general consensus exists in able flip angle (SPACE), and balanced turbo field echo (BTFE) the literature about the features that a microvascular palsy are now able to reliably visualize the entire course of the should exhibit, there are no formalized diagnostic criteria for ocular motor nerves from their exit in the brainstem all the this disorder.46 Furthermore, the certainty of the diagnosis way through to the superior orbital fissure and into the orbital cannot be fully determined at the initial presentation. Rather, – apex.39 41 Each segment can then be studied in detail, the diagnosis is fully realized when the patient’s clinical including the cisternal, dural, interdural (cavernous), forami- history and course conform over time to the expected natural nal, and extraforaminal portions of the nerve. The spatial history of a microvascular palsy. Signs and symptoms of resolution of these techniques can reach 0.6 mm or better, multiple cranial neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye and even the smallest nerves such as the fourth and sixth can disease, head trauma, congenital nerve palsy, giant cell often be visualized (see ►Fig. 3).42,43 arteritis, multiple sclerosis, syphilis, and Lyme disease should The course of the third nerve is readily visualized on these remain absent at follow-up.47 sequences. For example, using 0.6-mm slices, 3D-CISS can Microvascular palsies are thought to occur most often in demonstrate the exact relationship of the third nerve to the adults 50 years of age or older48 with existing vascular risk – posterior communicating and superior cerebellar arteries in factors such as hypertension,48 50 hyperlipidemia,50 diabe- the setting of an aneurysm39; 3D-CISS can also reveal the tes,47,49,50 left ventricular hypertrophy,47 and smoking.51 The precise anatomy of the cavernous sinus and show the rela- onset should be acute to subacute, but when examined early tionship of each nerve to local masses or the internal carotid in the course of their illness, patients may show progression – artery.44 With postcontrast high-resolution sequences, idio- in for a period of 2 to 4 weeks.52 54 Sys- pathic inflammation and enhancement of the nerves might temic symptoms are typically absent, but up to two-thirds of also be better visualized, such as in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome39 patients may report pain, typically in the ipsilateral brow, or in recurrent ophthalmoplegic cranial neuropathies.45 Al- which may occur before, during, or after the onset of though adding to the time and complexity of MRI examina- diplopia.26,52,55 tions, these sequences demonstrate the increasing capacity of Following a period of relative stability, the patient’sdiplo- technology to aid our understanding of otherwise cryptogen- pia should then begin to resolve, with recovery expected in ic or “idiopathic” ocular motor nerve palsies. 70% or more of cases,21,22,51 typically within a period of – approximately 3 months.52 54 In clinical practice, failure to < Characteristics of Microvascular Ischemia completely recover in a reasonable timeframe ( 3to6 months) should raise concern for an alternate etiology. The diagnosis of microvascular ischemia is often presumptive Recurrence of microvascular palsies has been reported. In and clinically based, as there is no known laboratory or one long-term retrospective review of 59 patients with Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material.

Fig. 3 High-resolution imaging of (A) the oculomotor nerve in the subarachnoid space, (B) the oculomotor nerve as it courses near the posterior cerebral artery and superior cerebellar artery, (C) the trochlear nerve in the subarachnoid space, and (D) the abducens nerve as it exits the brainstem. CN, cranial nerve; SCA, superior cerebellar artery; PCA, posterior cerebellar artery.

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microvascular sixth nerve palsy, 16 patients (31%) experi- microvascular nerve palsies. As previously mentioned, spon- enced 24 recurrent events either in the same or contralateral taneous recovery is expected in 70% or more of cases of eye. Most patients experienced only one recurrence, but three microvascular ischemia,21,22,51 typically within a period of – patients had two recurrences and one patient had four 3 months.47,52 54 Therefore, the treatment of microvascular recurrences.51 Using a different methodology, Keane found ischemia largely centers on the use of patching, prisms, and that 26 ocular motor nerve palsies had previously occurred strabismus surgery to relieve the patient’s diplopia.60 within his cohort of 141 patients with acute diabetic third Only one study has evaluated the effect of aspirin in the nerve palsy.27 setting of an ischemic nerve palsy. This retrospective case- control study found that a similar proportion of patients with Pathology of Microvascular Ischemia microvascular nerve palsies were already taking aspirin compared with a group of age- and gender-matched controls, Little is known about the actual pathophysiology of micro- suggesting that aspirin use was not fully protective against vascular ocular motor nerve palsies, presumably because the having a microvascular palsy.61 disease is inherently self-limited and not life-threatening. For patients in the acute period of their illness, patching or Accordingly, few patients have been examined at autopsy. fogging of one eye with handmade or commercial solutions is In 1957, Dreyfus et al56 reported a 62-year-old diabetic typically the most cost-effective and reasonable initial option. woman with acute left third nerve palsy who expired due to an In fact, patients may arrive in the office with self-constructed enlarging neck hematoma following an open left carotid patches, having discovered the binocular nature of their arteriogram to rule out aneurysm. At autopsy, microscopic diplopia. sections from the intracavernous portion of the left oculomo- Monocular occlusion with a patch is a simple method of tor nerve revealed areas of extensive myelin loss and fragmen- preventing diplopia. Occasionally, an occlusive (black) contact tation of the remaining nerve sheaths. Examination of the vasa lens can be used to allow for peripheral vision while blocking nervorum revealed thickening and hyalinization of the blood central diplopia. In children under the age of 6, sustained vessels, suggestive of chronic vascular changes. No local vas- patching can result in , and such management cular occlusions were noted. Although the most prominent should be done in conjunction with a pediatric ophthalmolo- changes were found in the nerve sheath myelin, fragmented gist.62,63 Adult patients can safely patch either eye without axon particles were also noted in local macrophages. concern for amblyopia. Another common concern is the loss In 1970, Asbury et al57 reported an 88-year-old woman of binocular fusion due to monocular patching, but this does with a history of prior right-sided microvascular third nerve not occur with patching for weeks to months. Most patients palsy who developed a left-sided microvascular third nerve with central fusion disruption have had severe head trauma64 palsy one month prior to her death from congestive heart or prolonged monocular sensory deprivation for months to failure. On her autopsy, the most prominent finding was a years (e.g., dense unilateral cataract65). Ocular motility ex- focal zone of demyelination with preserved underlying axons ercises are sometimes also recommended following an ische- located in the second quarter of the intracavernous segment mic palsy, but there are no clinical data to support motility of the left third nerve. Notably, the area of demyelination exercises for this diagnosis.66 appeared to lie in a watershed vascular zone between which For patients who require or prefer , tem- branches from the anterior and posterior circulation met and porary stick-on prisms can be used over a patient’s existing supplied the third nerve. Arterial hyalinization was observed glasses or over clear nonprescription spectacles. Due to the in the vasa nervorum, suggestive of chronic vascular change. likelihood of spontaneous improvement in ophthalmoparesis Weber et al58 reported in 1970 an autopsy on a third over the short term, the least amount of prism that allows the patient with a history of presumed diabetic oculomotor palsy patient to achieve binocular fusion should be used. For 5 months prior to death. Similar to the above cases, the patients with both vertical and horizontal components of patient was found to have a segment of the third nerve diplopia, the vertical misalignment should be corrected first, with a significant reduction in myelin staining with lesser as this axis has the least amount of fusional reserve. Large injury to the underlying axons. In contrast to prior cases, this angles of strabismus are typically not amenable to correction Downloaded by: IP-Proxy Washington University at St. Louis, University. Copyrighted material. lesion was found in the subarachnoid portion of the nerve with prism. rather than in the intracavernous portion of the nerve. Finally, for patients with fixed weakness several months Analysis of the vasa nervorum showed hyaline thickening. following their ischemic nerve palsy, glasses with ground-in Interestingly, although an etiology for the ipsilateral brow prism correction or strabismus surgery should be considered pain typically associated with microvascular palsies was not to help patients minimize residual diplopia.60 Minimizing discovered in the above autopsy series, anatomical studies in diplopia in the straight-ahead and downward positions typi- other mammals have revealed trigeminal sensory fibers that cally provides the most benefit in the patient’s level of travel through the substance of the oculomotor nerve.59 function for reading, navigating, and other daily tasks.

Treatment of Microvascular Ischemia Summary

There have been no treatment trials evaluating interventions In patients aged 50 years or older, isolated ocular motor nerve directed toward hastening or improving the recovery of palsies are most likely due to microvascular ischemia, but

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