title: Recurrent abducens nerve palsy associated with neurovascular compression.
abstract: We report a 50-year-old man who suffered from 5 transient diplopia episodes in 16 months. His diplopia lasted between 2 weeks and 3 months and examination revealed isolated left abducens palsy during the attacks of diplopia. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and MR imaging with constructive interference in the steady state sequence showed neurovascular compression of the left abducens nerve at the point of exit from the brain stem. Together with a lack of the preceding headache or febrile illness, we propose that neurovascular compression is a possible etiology of recurrent, isolated abducens nerve palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohnaka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D004172:Diplopia / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence