Congenital monocular elevation deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
The pathophysiology of monocular elevation deficiency is poorly understood. The goal of this study was to determine the appearance of the extraocular muscles and the oculomotor nerve.


METHODS
Observational case series.


METHODS
Six patients with monocular elevation deficiency.


METHODS
Ophthalmologic examination and thin-sectioned magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the brainstem level as well as across the orbit in 6 patients were performed.


METHODS
Ocular alignment and movement, extraocular muscles, and the oculomotor nerve on MRI.


RESULTS
One out of 6 patients with monocular elevation deficiency showed focal thickening of the inferior rectus muscle near the orbital apex. The 5 remaining patients showed normal extraocular muscles and the oculomotor nerves on MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
Focal thickening of the inferior rectus muscle may partially explain the cause of restricted gaze. In addition, the finding of normal oculomotor nerves might support an underlying deficit in the unilateral center for upgaze as the etiology of monocular elevation deficiency.
Kim
Jae Hyoung
JH
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Hwang
Jeong-Min
JM
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology*