title: Isolated nontraumatic abducens nerve palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abducens nerve palsy (ANP) is the most common isolated palsy. The injury of the abducens nerve can occur anywhere along its long course, so differential diagnosis of ANP occasionally demands thorough investigation to find the proper cause.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with isolated ANP are presented. The causes included nasopharyngeal carcinoma, diabetes, cholesteatoma of the inner ear, carotid-cavernous fistula, subarachnoid bleeding, hydrocephalus, toxic ANP, multiple sclerosis, clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of multiple sclerosis, and Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the cases presented and review of the literature, we argue that every patient with isolated nontraumatic ANP requires brain MRI as an initial diagnostic tool. If this finding remains inconclusive, additional tests including angiography and CSF examination should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, University Department of Neurology, Zagreb School of Medicine and University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vesna V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Brinar
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habek
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozretić
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Djaković
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matijević
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000150:complications; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D020333:Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome / Q000150:complications