title: Complete oculomotor palsy caused by persistent trigeminal artery.
abstract: Primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) is the most frequent embryonic communication between the carotid and vertebro-basilar system. PTA is a pathophysiology phenomenon which has been implicated as a rare cause of cranial nerve dysfunction. We report the case of a 40-year-old woman who developed a complete oculomotor nerve palsy caused by a persistent ecstatic trigeminal artery. Brain MRI and MRA studies documented a neurovascular conflict between the oculomotor nerve and a PTA. To the best of our knowledge there is no report about complete third cranial nerve palsy NC due to a PTA. A role of this rare vascular condition is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Via Largo Bologna, 88900, Crotone, Italy. nico_bosco@libero.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plastino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceccotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology