Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and other arterial abnormalities leading to abducens nerve palsy

摘要: IntroductionDolichoectatic vessels can cause cranial nerve dysfunction by either direct compression or ischemia. Abducens nerve palsy due to neurovascular compression by elongated, enlarged, tortuous or dilated arteries is an uncommon but important cause.AimTo highlight neurovascular compression as a cause of abducens nerve palsy and discuss various diagnostic techniques.MethodsManuscripts were identified using the National Institutes of Health PubMed literature search system. Search terms included abducens nerve palsy, neurovascular compression, dolichoectasia and arterial compression. Inclusion criteria required that the articles were written in English.ResultsThe literature search identified 21 case reports where abducens nerve palsy was due to vascular compression. Out of these 18 patients were male and the mean age was 54 years. Eight patients had unilateral right abducens nerve …