title: Isolated transient blindness and isolated oculomotor nerve palsy secondary to single mesencephalic metastases: report of 2 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metastatic lesions of midbrain are quite rare, and only unusually they produce isolated cranial nerve palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases of 2nd and 3rd cranial nerves impairment, produced by solitary midbrain metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both patients Magnetic Resonance (MR) allowed a correct diagnosis, subsequently confirmed by histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metastatic involvement of midbrain would be included in the differential diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmic conditions to avoid the risk of misdiagnosis and consequently delay in management of this special population. MR is crucial for early detection of this infrequent pathology.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lus
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scuotto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*