Concurrent trigeminal, abducens, and facial nerve palsies presenting as false localizing signs: case report

Neurosurgery. 1995 Aug;37(2):322-4; discussion 324-5.

Abstract

Multiple cranial nerve dysfunction presenting as false localizing signs is rare. We report a 20-year-old woman who had concurrent trigeminal sensory disturbance, abducens, and peripheral facial nerve palsies in association with a contralateral acoustic neuroma. After surgery, the trigeminal nerve disturbance and the abducens nerve palsy completely recovered, but the peripheral facial nerve palsy persisted. The nature of tumor, the presence of brain stem distortion, the anatomic variation of posterior fossa, and the relationships of cranial nerves and nearby blood vessels, which are factors influencing the occurrence of false localizing, are briefly discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abducens Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping
  • Deglutition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Deglutition Disorders / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diplopia / physiopathology
  • Diplopia / surgery
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology*
  • Facial Paralysis / physiopathology*
  • Facial Paralysis / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / surgery
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / physiopathology*
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / surgery
  • Ophthalmoplegia / physiopathology*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / surgery
  • Trigeminal Nerve / physiopathology*