Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Brief Clinical Note

A case of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome presenting ocular neuromyotonia

Akihiko Oohira, M.D.1) and Ai Sonobe, M.D.1)

1)Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine

A 27-year-old woman noticed diplopia when gazing left and paresthesia of the left face and headache of the left side for 8 months. Abduction and supraduction of the left eye were moderately restricted. Hypoesthesia of the face innervated by the ophthalmic branch of the left trigeminal nerve was detected. Visual disturbance due to optic neuropathy developed 5 months later. MRI with gadolinium revealed a mass lesion extending from the left cavernous sinus to the orbital apex. Ocular neuromyotonia and corresponding diplopia were induced by sustained right gaze. Such episodes occurred almost every day on awaking in the morning. Prednisolone (60 mg/day) was given and the headache and visual disturbance ameliorated in two days. The diplopia disappeared in 4 days. The patient remains free from these symptoms after 6 months. This is the first report of ocular neuromyotonia associated with Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (2038K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 53: 376|379, 2013)
key words: ocular neuromyotonia, Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, steroid therapy

(Received: 3-Sep-12)