Lateralizing Value of Romberg Test and Modified Romberg Test in Acute Unilateral Vestibular Neuritis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Romberg test has been regarded as simple and efficient bedside modality to evaluate the vestibulospinal reflex in patients with balance disorders. we compared the direction of fall and that of yaw head rotation during Romberg test to evaluate its lateralizing value in acute unilateral vestibular neuritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty three patients (n=43) with acute unilateral vestibular neuritis were included. We did Romberg test in three different head positions: with a head looking straight ahead (Romberg test1), turned to the right by about 90 degrees (Romberg test2) and turned to the left by about 90 degrees (Romberg test3) in yaw. Affected side of the vestibular neuritis was decided by the direction of nystagmus and the side of canal paresis. We compared the falling direction in each Romberg test, direction of nystagmus and canal paresis. RESULTS: During Romberg test, 19 out of 43 fell to the lesion side (44%) and during modified Romberg test, 18 out of 43 fell to the lesion side (42%). On modified Romberg test, fallings to the side of affected labyrinth showed 14/18 (78%) in the Romberg test 2 and 15/18 (83%) in the Romberg test 3. The direction of falling in each maneuvers correlated statistically to the side of the affected labyrinth (p<0.05). Direction of nystagmus and the side of the canal paresis also showed correlation to the direction of falling in modified Romberg test. CONCLUSION: Romberg and Modified Romberg tests are helpful to decide the affected side in vestibular neuritis to some extents.

A Rostro-Caudal Arrangement of the Oculomotor Fascicles Based on MR Findings of Midbrain Infarctions in Two Cases

A rostro-caudal topography of the oculomotor nerve fascicles is relatively well known in animal but not in human. We experienced two cases of midbrain infarctions presenting with isolated oculomotor nerve palsies. The MRI of the patient who had monocular elevation palsy with ptosis revealed a lesion in the middle to lower midbrain, whereas that of the other who had monocular depression and adduction palsy with pupillary mydriasis showed a discrete lesion in the upper to middle midbrain. We present the rostro-caudal arrangement of the oculomotor fascicles within midbrain based on MRI findings.

Partial Oculomotor Nerve Palsy due to Different Fascicular Involvements in Recurrent Midbrain Infarctions

We experienced a patient with partial oculomotor palsy who had initially manifested pupillary mydriasis and inferior rectus palsy which were attributed to an ipsilateral fascicular lesion in midbrain. She developed ipsilateral ptosis and monocular elevation palsy due to a new lesion on MRI one month later. This case could be the first neuroimaging evidence which support the hypothesis that fascicles of the oculomotor nerve for inferior oblique, superior rectus, and levator palphebrae muscle fibers are located more laterally and caudally than fascicles for pupil and inferior rectus muscle within midbrain tegmentum.

Specific MRI and MRA findings of Dural Carotid Cavernous Sinus Fistula:A Case Report

Dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistula (d-CCF) is a rare cause of ophthalmoplegia, and it may be overlooked when the prominent external orbito-ocular sign is lacking. Conventional angiography is the gold standard in the diagnosis of d-CCF. Recently, the specific MR findings of d-CCF have increasingly been reported. We report a patient with spontaneous d-CCF presenting with an isolated fourth-nerve palsy in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated d-CCF.

A Case of Carotid Cavernous Fistula Presenting with "Delayed Red-Eyed Shunts"

Presenting symptoms of carotid cavernous fistulas (CCF) may vary according to the draining vessels. Prominent external orbito-ocular signs such as red eye, proptosis, ocular bruit occur, when the shunt drains anteriorly ("red-eyed shunts"), whereas an isolated ocular motor nerve palsy and headache can be the only presenting symptoms when it drains posteriorly ("white-eyed shunts"). Turning the eyes red from white eyed-shunt weeks to months ("delayed red-eyed shunts") suggest the direction of fistula drainage shifted anteriorly; it has rarely been reported. We report a patient with delayed red-eyed shunts whose red eye resolved after chemical embolization of draining vessels.

Biphasic Head-Shaking Nystagmus in a Patient with Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction

Head-shaking test is a sensitive screening tool for a detection of peripheral and central vestibular system disease. Biphasic head-shaking nystagmus (b-HSN) is a rather uncommon phenomenon which was a combination of the paretic nystagmus and recovery nystagmus. We report characteristics of b-HSN in a patient with anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction, whose only complaint was recurrent vertigo.

Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy Caused by De Novo Pontine Cavernous Angioma

Cavernous angiomas are considered to be congenital in origin. Patients under age of 14 years usually does not require imaging because they are likely to have a benign abducens nerve palsy, unless they develop additional signs or symptoms of neurologic disease during observation. Here we report a case of an isolated abducens nerve palsy caused by overt hemorrhage from de novo formation of cavernous angioma in the pons. Cavernous angiomas of the brain stem should be considered as a possible cause of isolated abducens nerve palsy in young adult and MRI, including gradient-echo sequences should be performed.

A Case of Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome with Serial MRI Findings

To diagnosis Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (TSH) used to be difficult because some other diseases like tumors, sarcoids, vasculitises or other inflammatory masses simulate the clinical manifestations, including steroid responsiveness and radiologic findings. According to the international classification of headache disorders 2nd edition, the diagnosis of THS requires demonstration of granuloma by MRI or biopsy. We performed MRI 4 times during 6 months in a patient who seemed to have THS. Initial MRI was normal but the second MRI showed granuloma which decreased gradually in size with steroid treatment.

Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy Caused by De Novo Pontine Cavernous Angioma

Cavernous angiomas are considered to be congenital in origin. Patients under age of 14 years usually does not require imaging because they are likely to have a benign abducens nerve palsy, unless they develop additional signs or symptoms of neurologic disease during observation. Here we report a case of an isolated abducens nerve palsy caused by overt hemorrhage from de novo formation of cavernous angioma in the pons. Cavernous angiomas of the brain stem should be considered as a possible cause of isolated abducens nerve palsy in young adult and MRI, including gradient-echo sequences should be performed.

A Case of Isolated Unilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy Caused by Clival Metastasis from Rectal Cancer

A wide variety of abnormalities, both primary to the nerve itself and secondarily involving the nerve, can cause isolated abducens nerve palsy. Skull base lesions are also regarded as possible causes of isolated abducens nerve palsy but clival metastasis from systemic malignancy has rarely been reported. We report a case of isolated abducens nerve palsy caused by clival metastasis from rectal cancer.

A Case of Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome with Serial MRI Findings

To diagnosis Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (TSH) used to be difficult because some other diseases like tumors, sarcoids, vasculitises or other inflammatory masses simulate the clinical manifestations, including steroid responsiveness and radiologic findings. According to the international classification of headache disorders 2nd edition, the diagnosis of THS requires demonstration of granuloma by MRI or biopsy. We performed MRI 4 times during 6 months in a patient who seemed to have THS. Initial MRI was normal but the second MRI showed granuloma which decreased gradually in size with steroid treatment.

A Case of Isolated Unilateral Abducens Nerve Palsy Caused by Clival Metastasis from Rectal Cancer

A wide variety of abnormalities, both primary to the nerve itself and secondarily involving the nerve, can cause isolated abducens nerve palsy. Skull base lesions are also regarded as possible causes of isolated abducens nerve palsy but clival metastasis from systemic malignancy has rarely been reported. We report a case of isolated abducens nerve palsy caused by clival metastasis from rectal cancer.

Neuro-Behcet's Disease Presenting with Foville Syndrome : A Case Report

A Foville syndrome is rare. A 46-year-old man with a 3-year history of Behcet's disease presented with a right facial palsy and a limitation in the rightward movements of the eyes. On neurologic examination, there was no movement of eyes in the right hemifield during all kinds of eye movements, including saccade, smooth pursuit, vestibulo-ocular reflex, and optokinetic nystagmus. However, all the eye movements were normal in the left hemifiled except for slowed saccades toward the right. Additional features were right infranuclear facial paresis and extensor plantar response on left side. Brain MRI revealed high signal intensity lesions in the right pons both in the dorsal tegmentum and in the basis. Neurological signs resolved gradually with steroid treatment. Different clinical features between abducens nucleus syndrome and paramedian pontine reticular formation syndrome are briefly discussed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of a Foville syndrome caused by neuro-Behcet's disease.