Bilateral sixth-nerve palsy. A rare complication of water-soluble contrast myelography.
The appearance of bilateral sixth-nerve palsy is usually a harbinger of serious intracranial disease or a nonspecific sign of increased intracranial pressure from any cause. Although unilateral sixth-nerve palsy is a well-recognized complication of lumbar puncture, the appearance of bilateral sixth-nerve palsy following water-soluble myelography is not generally recognized. We describe our experience with three patients and emphasize the benign and self-limiting character of these bilateral sixth-nerve palsies.
D000010:Abducens Nerve; D000328:Adult; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D004948:Esotropia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging