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Case Reports
. 2019 Oct-Dec;63(4):375-378.

Isolated unilateral sixth nerve palsy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Kaveh Abri Aghdam  1 , Amin Zand  1 , Mostafa Soltan Sanjari  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Isolated unilateral sixth nerve palsy in a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Kaveh Abri Aghdam et al. Rom J Ophthalmol. 2019 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To describe an isolated unilateral sixth nerve palsy, as a rare neuro-ophthalmic presentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: We report a 54-year-old female, known case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma who was treated with chemo-radiotherapy, and presented with isolated right sixth nerve palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated extension of tumor to intracranial fossa with clival involvement. Results: The patient was referred to an otolaryngologist for further evaluation and necessary intervention due to invasion of the cancer to intracranial fossa with involvement of right abducens nerve. Conclusions: Although, isolated sixth nerve palsies in adults over the age of 50 are usually ischemic; but in enduring cases, neoplastic processes should be considered.

Keywords: horizontal diplopia; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; nasopharynx; sixth nerve palsy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Right abduction deficit, prominent on right lateral gaze
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Brain and cervical MRI, T2 weighted, sagittal cut: heterogeneously enhancing mass in the right aspect of the nasopharynx
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Brain MRI, T2 weighted, axial cut: upward extension of the heterogeneous mass into the middle cranial fossa, that involved the clivus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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