J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2007 Apr;41(4):246-247. 10.3340/jkns.2007.41.4.246.

Pituitary Apoplexy Presenting as Isolated Oculomotor Nerve Palsy

• Yang MS
• Cho WH
• Cha SH

• KMID: 2018269
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2007.41.4.246

Abstract

The most common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is ischemia of the peripheral nerve caused by a disease, such as diabetes mellitus. Another common cause of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy is compression by an intracranial aneurysm, usually an posterior communicating artery aneurysm. However, it is extremely rare in the pituitary tumor. We report an unusual case of pituitary adenoma presenting with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy in the setting of pituitary apoplexy. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of a patient with isolated oculomotor nerve palsy and early surgery should be considered for preservation of oculomotor nerve function.

Keyword

Oculomotor nerve palsy; Pituitary adenoma; Pituitary apoplexy

MeSH Terms

Diabetes Mellitus
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Intracranial Aneurysm
Ischemia
Oculomotor Nerve Diseases*
Oculomotor Nerve*
Peripheral Nerves
Pituitary Apoplexy*
Pituitary Neoplasms