An Unusual Case of Pediatric Painless Ophthalmoplegia

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy, case reports: what to do and when?

BACKGROUND

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) and recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON) are rare diseases reported within the "Painful lesions of the cranial nerves" section of the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3rd edition (ICHD-3). In case of a first painful attack, differential diagnosis could be challenging and many pitfalls are due to the rarity of the disorders and the lack of information about correct medical management in youngsters.

CASE PRESENTATION

Our main purpose was to report a new case of THS and a new case of RPON describing management and diagnostic investigation at the time of the first episode. In both cases of THS (13 years old) and RPON (14 years old) a unilateral periorbital headache associated with acute onset of ipsilateral third cranial nerve paresis, scarcely responding to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), was present at the beginning of the first attack. Brain MRI with "time-of-flight" (TOF) angiography and the need to administer steroids (after 72 h from onset) in order to stop pain were the most important handles allowing us to adopt the correct management both in THS or RPON since onset and to face recurrences in RPON by avoiding useless therapy during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Unilateral periorbital headache associated with third-fourth or sixth cranial nerve paresis should ideally be investigated with a full work-up, comprehensive of brain MRI with TOF angiography since the first attack. In cases with negative brain MRI spontaneous resolution should be considered and watchful waiting might be advisable before starting steroid therapy.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome: A Review of Diagnostic Criteria and Unresolved Issues

Purpose:

To review the diagnostic criteria for Tolosa–Hunt syndrome (THS) and utility of recent modifications.

Methods:

We searched PubMed for keywords Tolosa Hunt and magnetic resonance imaging. We compared the three editions of International Classification of Headache Disorders and isolated case reports and case series with the assessment of cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) caliber to find the prevalence of vascular anomalies. We also evaluated cases of THS with the involvement of extracavernous structures and the possible role of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP). Cases diagnosed falsely as THS were also reviewed for the presence of atypical features and relevance of criterion D. We assessed nonconforming cases (those with normal neuroimaging benign THS) and idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumor (IIPO).

Results:

Vascular abnormalities were found in 36.36% of THS cases. Benign THS may also show changes in ICA caliber. Evidence suggestive of idiopathic HP could be found in 57% of cases with the involvement of extracavernous structures, such as facial nerve and pituitary gland. Both THS and IIPO are steroid-responsive pathologies with similar clinical and radiological features. False-positive diagnosis of THS results from early labeling, based solely on clinical features and symptom resolution after steroid therapy.

Conclusions:

Benign THS may be a result of limitation of resolution of available neuroimaging technique or early testing. Early and late vascular changes can be seen in both THS and its benign variant; some of them are not innocuous. THS may be considered a type of focal idiopathic HP. IIPO may represent an anterior variant of THS. In the absence of histopathological diagnosis, steroid-induced resolution of symptoms should be confirmed radiologically and followed-up.

Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome in Childhood and Adolescence: A Literature Review in the Last 10 Years

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study is to review the articles published in the last 10 years on Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) in childhood and adolescence to learn about its clinical and epidemiological characteristics and its therapeutic management.

METHODS

Based on the literature search in the major medical databases and using the descriptors "Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and children" and "Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and adolescent" we included articles published between 2009 and 2019. We found 51 articles, but only 11 met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

There were eight women and four men with THS, whose average age was 12.0 ± 4.3 years, ranging from 4 to 17 years. Magnetic resonance imaging showed inflammation in the cavernous sinus (100%), orbit (25%), and superior orbital fissure (8.3%), unilateral in all patients. The internal carotid artery (58.3%), third (66.7%), sixth (33.3%), and fourth (25%) cranial nerves were injured. Headache was located in the orbital region, ipsilaterally to nerve involvement and had mild to severe intensity. Corticosteroid was the treatment used in 91.7% of the patients. They were followed for an average of 13.4 ± 12.4 months. Only two patients had recurrence of the disease.

CONCLUSION

THS is infrequent in childhood and adolescence and knowledge of its clinical and epidemiological characteristics and its therapeutic management is necessary for pediatricians.

Bilateral Tolosa-Hunt syndrome mimicking pituitary adenoma

The authors report a rare case of bilateral Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, which occurred in a 80-year-old female and remitted spontaneously. Inflammatory lesions were found not only in typical locations, i.e. superior orbital fissures and cavernous sinuses, but also in the pituitary; these imitated gland's macroadenoma in imaging studies.