Three-dimensional Imaging of Abducens Palsy by Neurovascular Compression.

Case 1 was a 66-year-old woman, and case 2 was a 46-year-old man. Both cases had no contributory medical history for ischemic neuropathy. Magnetic resonance imaging with constructive interference in steady state (CISS) showed the abducens nerve (long arrows in Picture 1-4) at the point of exit from the brain stem adjacent to the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) (short arrows in Picture 1-4) (Picture 1 shows the images of case 1, and Picture 2 shows the images of case 2). Three-dimensional (3D)-CISS showed that the abducens nerve was crossed by the AICA (Picture 3 shows the images of case 1 and Picture 4 shows the images of case 2). Our cases are the first to be depicted with 3D-CISS. Vulnerability to pressure at the root exit zone of the nerve is considered to cause abducens palsy (1).

Picture 1.

Picture 4.

Picture 2.

Picture 3.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).