Midbrain arteriovenous malformation causing bilateral total ophthalmoplegia as an initial ocular symptom--a case report

A 61-year-old woman is presented with a bilateral total ophthalmoplegia as an initial ocular symptom, caused by a midbrain hematoma. She complained of acute headache, nausea, vomiting and bilateral closure of her eyelids. Examination on admission showed meningeal irritation; mild consciousness disturbance; bilateral total ophthalmoplegia; left hemiparesis; ataxia in all extremities, more marked to the left. Computed tomography demonstrated a small hematoma in the midbrain tegmentum. Angiography demonstrated midbrain arteriovenous malformation, and she was treated conservatively. Abduction of both eyes and adduction of the left eye appeared on the next day of the ictus, and after that, improved gradually. Left ptosis had improved since one week after the ictus. Light reflex of the left pupil had seen 5 days after the ictus. At the same time, the left pupil revealed an oval-shape. Right internal ophthalmoplegia continued to exist. One year later, the right eye deviated externally, and the left deviated inferio-medially. Abduction of both eyes was normal. Infraduction of both eyes was seen, but limited on the left. Upgaze paresis remained unchanged, and adduction of the right eye was absent. Adduction of the left eye showed almost full recovery. There was right complete ptosis, but left ptosis became indefinite. These ocular findings indicated typical right oculomotor paresis plus superior rectus paresis of the left eye, which suggested a destructive lesion in the right oculomotor nucleus. Also, her left extremities showed a hemiparesis as a pyramidal tract sign (Weber's syndrome) and an ataxia as a cerebellar sign (Claude's syndrome).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)