Painful ophthalmoplegia: the Tolosa-Hunt syndrome.

Painful ophthalmoplegia is characterized by unilateral involvement of the IIIrd, IVth and VIth cranial nerves, as well as supra- and retro-orbital pain, i.e. participation of the Vth cranial nerve. The pain is relieved within 48-72 h with steroid therapy. The paresis of the eye muscles in various combinations usually subsides gradually from within a few weeks to several months. The etiology is unknown. The few pathological examinations reported in the literature showed an unspecific inflammatory granulation tissue around the intracavernous portion of the carotid artery and on the dura mater in the vicinity of the cavernous sinus. Carotid arteriography may show stationary waves of this artery and narrowing of its intracavernous portion. With orbital phlebography the occlusion of the supraorbital vein and obstruction of the cavernous sinus are sometimes demonstrable. The syndrome is well defined and its etiology still unknown.     

The antero-medial triangle: the risk for cranial nerves ischemia at the cavernous sinus lateral wall. Anatomic cadaveric study

OBJECTIVE: Vascular damage in the cavernous sinus can cause ischemic injury to the cranial nerves. An appropriate anatomical knowledge of the blood supply to the cranial nerves can help to reduce the morbidity associated with cavernous sinus surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three formalin-fixed and six adult cadaveric fresh heads, with common carotid arteries injected, were used for anatomical dissection in this study. A fronto-temporal craniotomy was performed and the cavernous sinus was explored according to the Dolenc technique. With microsurgical dissection and photographic documentation, we demonstrate the anatomy of the superior orbital fissure artery in the antero-medial triangle. RESULTS: The 12 explored cavernous sinuses demonstrated the presence of two principal branches directly from the intracavernous internal carotid artery that supply the cranial nerves: the infero-lateral trunk and the meningohypophyseal trunk. The artery of the Superior Orbital Fissure (SOF), originated more often from the infero-lateral trunk, and vascularized the III, IV, VI, and VI, and ophtalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (TGN VI) at their entry in the fissure. CONCLUSION: In this study we demonstrate that the superior orbital fissure artery is a branch from the infero-lateral trunk which runs immediately under the reticularis layer at the level of the anteromedial triangle in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. The blood supply to all cranial nerves in the SOF is at risk to injury when the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus is transgressed at the anteromedial triangle since the SOF-artery runs superficially at this level.     

Giant parasellar aneurysm simulating pituitary tumor

Seven cases of compromised pituitary fossa at the conventional skull X-ray, who had the final diagnosis of giant aneurysm of the intracavernous portion of the carotid artery (6 cases) and one of the anterior communicating artery, are reported. The main findings were: headache (7/7), complex ophthalmoplegia involving the III, IV and VI cranial nerves (5/7), compromised V cranial nerve (4/7) and eyeball pain (4/7). Other manifestations were: meningeal signs (2/7), unilateral blindness (1/7), hemiparesis (1/7), cacosmia (1/7) and inferior bitemporal quadrantanopsia (1/7). Five patients with intracavernous carotid artery aneurysm showed benefits with progressive occlusion of the internal carotid artery at the cervical level. One died before surgery. The case with anterior communicating artery aneurysm improved after its surgical clipping. Our data, in accord with the literature, support the conclusion that the differential diagnosis of aneurysms in the parasellar region remains a very difficult task. The accurate final diagnosis requires cerebral angiography and the surgical treatment with progressive occlusion at the cervical portion of the internal carotid artery has a relatively low risk with promising results.     

Meningiomas of the cavernous sinus: the surgical resectability and complications

The optimal management for patients with cavernous sinus meningiomas is to evacuate tumor without causing mortality or morbidity. The records of 16 patients, including 11 women and 5 men ranging in age from 31 to 63 years, underwent surgical treatment for this condition were reviewed. Completeness of tumor resection, cranial nerve morbidity, complications, mortality, the internal carotid artery encasement and outcome were studied. Total removal was achieved in six patients. Of ten patients who underwent subtotal resection there was one death and four were sent to radiotherapy. Morbidity was 24% for cranial nerves controlling extraocular motor function; trigeminal nerve function did not improve after surgical treatment. Symptomatic recurrence occurred in two patients who underwent subtotal tumor resection and in one who underwent complete tumor resection. The average follow-up period was of 26 months. According to our findings, we conclude: 1) the resectability of meningiomas of cavernous sinus depends on the degree of internal carotid artery involvement; 2) total resection of meningiomas confined in cavernous sinus is rare; 3) morbidity of the cranial nerves is significant; 4) subtotal resection is an effective mean to obtain control of the disease.     

海绵窦内颅神经血液供应显微外科解剖研究

目的 为减少海绵窦显微外科手术时损伤海绵窦内颅神经血供而研究这些颅神经的血液供应解剖。方法 50具成人尸体海绵窦标本,在解剖显微镜下解剖和分析。结果（１）９０侧（占90％）的标本示动眼神经由颈内动脉的下外侧动脉分支供血;（2）滑车神经近段有74例（占74％）的标本示其接受下外侧动脉的分支供血,有26例（占26％）标本示其接受脑膜垂体动脉分支天幕动脉的供血,滑车神经远段主要由下外侧动脉的分支供血;（3）在Dorellos管区域,外展神经近段接受脑膜背侧动脉的血供,中段及远段由下外侧动脉的分支供血;（4）三叉神经的眼支和上颌支由下外侧动脉的分支供血,三叉神经节的内侧部由下外侧动脉和天幕动脉的分支供血,中部由下外侧动脉的分支供血,外侧部由下外侧动脉的分支或由脑膜中动脉供血。结论 下外侧动脉在海绵窦内颅神经供血中起重要作用。术中我们应保护这些血供,就可减少术后颅神经功能障碍。     

内镜下经鼻蝶入路治疗鞍区病变的解剖学研究

目的研究内镜下蝶窦和鞍区的解剖结构。方法对8例成人头颅标本在内镜下模拟经鼻蝶手术入路,解剖观察蝶窦后壁和鞍区。结果将蝶窦后壁“井”字线划分为九个区,中间从上到下分别为视交叉区、鞍区和斜坡区,两侧从上到下分别为视神经管区、鞍旁海绵窦区和斜坡旁海绵窦区。鞍型蝶窦后壁中常见的解剖标志有斜坡凹陷、视神经管隆突、颈内动脉隆突和视神经颈内动脉隐窝;其中视神经颈内动脉隐窝是恒定的骨性解剖标志,毗邻视神经、海绵窦、海绵窦内颈内动脉、眶尖;两侧视神经颈内动脉隐窝的连线是鞍结节的投影。鞍旁海绵窦区是骨缺损好发的位置。结论对蝶窦后壁的九分区法适用于骨质层、硬膜层和颅内层,使复杂的鞍区及附近结构相对简化,易于识别和定位;视神经颈内动脉隐窝是重要的解剖标志。     

Aseptic cavernous sinus thrombosis after internal carotid arterial occlusion in polycythaemia vera.

Two patients with untreated polycythaemia vera developed intracranial internal carotid arterial occlusion followed by monocular blindness and the characteristic features of ipsilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis. Primary septic source and signs of systemic infection were absent. It is suggested that the predisposing factors in this unusual syndrome were hyperviscosity and venous sludging induced by the basic haematological disorder and progression of the thrombotic process within the internal carotid artery towards its intracavernous portion with occlusion of the ophthalmic artery and of the arterial branches which supply the walls of the sinus.     

A case of CNS aspergillosis developing orbital apex syndrome and causing mycotic aneurysm and the subsequent cerebral infarction]

A 79-year-old woman, with no immune deficit, had presented progressive visual disturbance, diplopia and ptosis of her left eye over 2 weeks. T1-weighted MR images with gadolinium showed a heterogeneously enhanced lesion extending from the left orbital apex along the optic nerve to the cavernous sinus. Although we could not detect fungus by a transsphenoidal biopsy, we suspected fungal infection because of high level of galactomanan antigen in serum. Despite antifungal chemotherapy, her symptoms did not improve. CT image on day 40 showed an aneurysm in the left internal carotid artery, on day 43 cerebral infarction in the left internal carotid artery distribution and on day 45 she died. Autopsy disclosed that aspergillus hyphae invaded the left sphenoid sinus, cavernous sinus and wall of the aneurysm. In this case, fungal infection in the frontal skull base including orbital apex caused mycotic aneurysm in the intracavernous portion of the left internal carotid artery. Skull base aspergillosis presenting orbital apex syndrome is itself rare and in addition, the occurrence of cerebral infarction in the mycotic aneurysm has hardly been reported. We should have cerebrovascular disease in mind as a complication of CNS aspergillosis.     

A case of posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a posterior-draining dural cavernous sinus fistula.

A 79-year-old woman presented with sudden unilateral visual loss after an ocular motor disturbance and pulsatile tinnitus. Neuro-ophthalmologic examination showed a presumed right posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION), oculosympathetic, and third, sensory fifth, and sixth cranial nerve pareses. Selective angiography of the right internal and external carotid arteries confirmed a posterior-draining dural carotid cavernous sinus fistula (CCF) fed by the right meningohypophyseal trunk and right middle meningeal artery. Angiography also showed an ophthalmic-middle meningeal arterial anastomosis. We postulate that the PION was caused by an arterial steal, because blood was drawn into the fistula and away from the intraorbital optic nerve.     

展神经颅内段显微外科解剖学研究

目的研究展神经颅内段的显微解剖结构。方法 对30个灌注红、蓝乳胶或硅橡胶的头颅标本进行解剖,观测颅内段展神经的位置、走行及重要毗邻关系。对岩斜段展神经进行苏木精-伊红染色,研究该段展神经硬膜鞘的构成。结果颅内段展神经分为脑池段、岩斜段和海绵窦段;共形成4个转角,分别为：穿硬脑膜处、岩尖、颈内动脉后曲或后升部外侧、海绵窦下动脉跨展神经处。脑池段展神经根腹面有小脑前下动脉、小脑后下动脉、脑桥下外侧动脉跨过,展神经根背面有小脑前下动脉、脑桥下外侧动脉跨过。岩斜段展神经与展神经硬膜鞘、Gruber韧带、Dorello管及脑膜背侧动脉关系密切。海绵窦下动脉在海绵窦段中部跨海绵窦段展神经,位置固定,交感神经出现在该动脉8mm范围内。结论脑池段展神经受血管压迫可导致展神经麻痹。岩斜段展神经与周围解剖结构毗邻关系复杂,熟知相关解剖关系,有助于岩斜段展神经受损的治疗。海绵窦下动脉是寻找海绵窦段展神经与交感神经的一个重要标志。     

A case of fibromuscular dysplasia presenting with Wallenberg syndrome, and developing a giant aneurysm of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus]

A 25-year-old man developed Wallenberg syndrome (WS). At that time his carotid angiography was normal. When he was 28 years old, he suffered from retinal artery embolism in the left eye. At the age of 30 years, he had an acute onset of abducens nerve palsy in his right eye. The carotid angiography showed a giant aneurysm at the cavernous sinus portion in the right internal carotid artery. At his age of 38, the right oculomotor, trochlear and trigeminal nerves were involved. A vertebral angiography revealed a bead-like formation, and a diagnosis of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) was made. An intensive angiographic examination revealed many stenotic or dilated lesions in the carotid, vertebral, coronary, renal, and hepatic arteries. A sural nerve biopsy specimen revealed that the sural vein was involved. In Japan only one case of FMD presenting with WS is known. FMD should be under consideration as an underlying disease, when WS occurred in younger patients with few risk factors. In this patient an angiography revealed no abnormality in the cavernous sinus portion of the internal carotid artery, when he suffered from WS. However, eight years later he was proved to have a giant aneurysm in the cavernous sinus portion. In conclusion, we support the hypothesis that aneurysm may originate from angiographically normal arterial wall in FMD.     

A case of alternating Tolosa-Hunt syndrome

A 50-year-old woman developed third, fourth, and fifth cranial nerve palsies in the right associated with frontal pain in the ipsilateral side. Oral administration of prednisolone (30 mg/day) was initiated. The painful ophthalmoplegia improved dramatically following this treatment. Three months later, the patient developed the third, fourth, and fifth cranial palsies in the left which was contralateral to the previous episode. The patient had pain in the left frontal region. The corticosteroid therapy was again effective. Cavernous sinus and orbital venographies demonstrated a constriction of the right superior ophthalmic vein in the first and third parts, with a partial filling of the cavernous sinus. The left superior vein and cavernous sinus were normal. A left carotid arteriogram showed a slight deformity of the carotid siphon in the left. The glucose tolerance test demonstrated a mild diabetic pattern. Diabetic ophthalmoplegia can also be suspected in this case, however, the finding of a partial filling of the right cavernous sinus was indicative of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Therefore this case was diagnosed as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. Alternating relapsing Tolosa-Hunt syndrome involving the third, fourth and fifth cranial nerve as seen in this case is very rare. There are many diseases which may demonstrate similar symptoms; i.e. parasellar tumor, aneurysm, diabetic ophthalmoplegia, multiple cranial neuropathy, etc. The pathologic process involved in Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is poorly understood and it appears that the clinical entity of this syndrome should be questioned. We believe that it is necessary to clarify the precise pathologic process involved in this syndrome and its relation with other similar syndromes exhibiting similar symptoms.     

Review of complications due to foramen ovale puncture.

We aim to evaluate the mechanisms responsible for complications during trigeminal rhizotomy via foramen ovale puncture. Ten dry skulls and 10 skull-base specimens were investigated in the present study. In cadaveric skull-base specimens, the anatomical relationships between the foramen ovale, mandibular nerve and Gasserian ganglion and the surrounding neurovascular structures were investigated intradurally. The distance between the foramen ovale and Gasserian ganglion was measured as 6 mm. The abducent nerve, adjacent to the anterior tail of the petrolingual ligament, was observed passing along the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus. Advancement of the catheter more than 10 mm from the foramen ovale is likely to damage the internal carotid artery and the abducent nerve at the medial side of the petrolingual ligament. Thermocoagulation of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus may damage the cranial nerves by heat, giving rise to pareses.     

Pathways of parasympathetic and sensory cerebrovascular nerves in monkeys.

Using immunohistochemistry, we studied the origins and pathways of parasympathetic and sensory nerve fibers to the pial arteries in four squirrel monkeys. Following its application to the surface of the middle cerebral artery, the retrograde axonal tracer True Blue accumulated in parasympathetic neurons of the sphenopalatine ganglion and the internal carotid ganglion. The latter is strategically located where the internal carotid artery enters the cranium. Fibers from the sphenopalatine ganglion reach the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus region after running as rami orbitales. Before reaching the internal carotid artery, the fibers bypass aberrant sphenopalatine ganglia, with the most distant, the cavernous ganglion, being located in the cavernous sinus region. True Blue also accumulated in sensory neurons of the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal ganglion and in sensory neurons of the internal carotid ganglion. Fibers from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal ganglion reach the internal carotid artery as a branch through the cavernous sinus, bypassing the cavernous ganglion. Fibers from the maxillary division also bypass the cavernous ganglion after reaching it via a recurrent branch of the orbitociliary nerve. Thus, the cavernous ganglion forms a confluence zone for parasympathetic and sensory fibers in the region. In addition, parasympathetic and sensory fibers leave the confluence zone to follow the abducent and trochlear nerves backward to the basilar artery and tentorium cerebelli, respectively. Clinical implications are discussed.     

Anatomical basis for a parasympathetic and sensory innervation of the intracranial segment of the internal carotid artery in man. Possible implication for vascular headache.

Two ganglionic cell groups, located close together and called the internal carotid ganglion, not described before in man, were demonstrated extradurally on the ventrolateral surface of the human internal carotid artery (ICA), where the greater superficial petrosal nerve is joined by the (greater) deep petrosal nerve to form the vidian nerve. The two ganglionic cell groups have fiber connections to the ICA, and consist of 50-70 cells each. By immunohistochemistry the majority of cells in one of the groups were shown to contain vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) indicating a parasympathetic function, whereas most cells in the other group contained substance P (SP) and possibly calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), transmitters in pain fibers. Lateral to the intracavernous segment of ICA 10-150 scattered or aggregated VIP- and ChAT-positive cells were found, with fiber connections to the ophthalmic nerve, the ICA, the abducent nerve and the sphenopalatine ganglion. These cells may represent aberrant parasympathetic (sphenopalatine) ganglia, here referred to as cavernous ganglion. By radioimmunoassay substantial amounts of VIP, SP and CGRP were measured in both the extradural and the intracavernous segment of the ICA. Thus, the intracranial segment of the ICA is most likely innervated by parasympathetic and pain fibers from the internal carotid ganglion, sensory fibers from the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal ganglion, and parasympathetic fibers from the sphenopalatine and/or cavernous ganglion. Clinical implications for the activation of these nerves to cause pain, dilatation and edema in this segment of the ICA during attacks of cluster headache and painful ophthalmoplegic syndromes are discussed.     

Anatomy and embryology of the lateral sellar compartment (cavernous sinus) medial wall

Abstract

In order to study the microanatomy of the lateral sellar compartment (cavernous sinus) medial wall, serial histological sections of human fetuses and adults, as well as dissections under operative microscope, were performed. The results were compared to high resolution Magnetic Resonance Images in human, to microdissections and to serial histological sections in adult nonhuman primates (Papio Cynocephalus anubis). We were able to show that. the sellar compartment and both lateral sellar osteodural compartments are not separated from each other by a dural wall, but by a more or less dense, interrupted, fibrous tissue which derived from the mesenchyme surrounding the hypophysis, carotid artery, cranial nerves and venous channels. In the human fetus, the previous mentioned structures are located in a unique interperiosteodural space. Histoarchitecture of the superior and lateral wall dura-mater was different from the underlying mesenchyme derived connective tissue and was easily distinguished through histological examination. These findings correspond to MRI data. We conclude that there is no medial dural wall limiting the lateral sellar compartment (cavernous sinus), both parasellar and the hypophyseal compartment should be considered as a unique extradural space. The only dense connective tissue surrounding the pituitary gland is its own glandular capsule and the periosteum. [Neural Res 1998; 20: 585–592]     

Sphenoid and optic nerve sheath meningioma revealed by recurrent brain infarctions

Meningioma, though benign, may invade adjacent structures such as bone, soft tissues, dural sinuses and arteries. However brain infarctions secondary to meningioma involving the cavernous sinus and encasing and narrowing the intracranial carotid artery are rare. We report the case of a young man with recurrent left carotid artery infarctions due to a left sphenoid meningioma infiltrating the posterior optic nerve sheath through the optic canal and circumscribing the intracranial carotid artery. The patient had a gradually progressive occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, the distal internal carotid artery and finally the anterior cerebral artery ipsilateral to the sphenoid meningioma.     

Comparative microanatomy of the lateral wall of the ‘cavernous sinus’ in humans and the olive baboon

Abstract

Despite many studies of the ‘cavernous sinus’ lateral wall, the anatomy of this area remains controversial. We performed a comparative microanatomical and histoarchitectural study in 14 humans and in 10 nonhuman primates (Papio cynocephalus anubis). Venous channels and cranial nerves were embedded in the ‘interperiosteodural space’. The dura propria of the lateral wall could be removed without entering the venous compartment. The oculomotor and trochlear nerves were accompanIed by an arachnoidal and dural sheath. The oculomotor nerVe sheath stopped under the anterior clinoid process in baboons. The trigeminal ganglion was covered posteriorly with an arachnoid membrane and adhered firmly to the dura propria on lateral aOnd anterior sections. The three branches of the trigeminal nerve had no arachnoid covering, except for arachnoid granulations in humans. In baboons, the oculomotor and trochlear nerves were thicker than in humans, while the ophthalmic nerve was thinner. The abducens nerve belonged to the lateral wall of the sinus in baboons and had no arachnoidal sheath except in the first millimeters of Dorello’s canal. After leaving their arachnoidal and dural sheath, the intracavernous cranial nerves acquired a typical peripheral sheath. The venous channels in both species’ were true dural sinuses. Willis cords and adipose tissue were identified. [Neural Res 1997; 19: 571-576]     

The cavernous sinus syndrome an anatomical and clinical study

The cavernous sinus is often involved pathologically, which can cause ocular motor nerve palsies with or without facial sensory disturbances. Consequently several clinical features of ocular motor nerve palsies have been described.

In this article we present a study of the cavernous sinus syndrome, and compare this syndrome with other nerve palsy syndromes caused by lesions in or adjacent to the cavernous sinus.

The clinical features are explained by means of an anatomical study of the cavernous sinus.     

MRI localization of paraclinoid carotid aneurysms

AIM: The distal dural ring plane (DDRP) separates the intracavernous from the supracavernous paraclinoid internal carotid artery. The purpose of this MRI protocol is to evaluate the position of this plane for the characterization of paraclinoid aneurysms. METHOD: The protocol uses a T2 weighted sequence in two orthogonal planes (diaphragmatic and carotid planes) and two correlation lines in each plane. These lines pass through anatomo-radiological reference points correlated with the medio-lateral and antero-posterior margins of the DDRP. We use the intersection angle of these lines as the inferior radiological limit of the DDRP curve. RESULTS: An aneurysm located above this angle is supracavernous; an aneurysm located below this angle is intracavernous; an aneurysm crossing this angle is transitional. CONCLUSION: In difficult cases, this MRI protocol could help better characterize the exact localization of paraclinoid aneurysms on both sides of the cavernous sinus roof.