title: An imaging guide to the evaluation of third cranial nerve palsies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To devise a cost-effective imaging guide for the evaluation of third nerve palsies (TNP), based on an extensive review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the pertinent English language literature was performed to devise a guideline for the evaluation and neuroimaging of TNP. The authors also report a retrospective review of the cost of imaging studies performed on 91 patients with TNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of the available literature, an imaging guide was developed and applied to a retrospective chart review of 91 patients from a single tertiary care center (Baylor College of Medicine). The cost effectiveness as well as the efficacy of the imaging guide was analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evaluation of TNP can be difficult; however, using such guides may allow for more appropriate and cost-effective evaluation of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology Houston, TX 77030, USA. alee@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Onan
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Brazis
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Prager
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics