Isolated Bilateral Abducens Nerve Palsies Due to Metastasis to the Clivus from Adenocarcinoma in the Lung

Abstract

Isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsies due to clivus tumor have rarely been reported. We report on a 71-year-old woman with isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsies probably caused by metastatic clivus tumor from an adenocarcinoma in the lung. She complained of diplopia due to right abducens nerve palsy. Two weeks later, left abducens nerve palsy also appeared. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed a gadolinium-enhanced lesion in the clivus. Computed tomography of the chest demonstrated a lesion in segment 9 of the left lung. Biopsy of this lesion confirmed adenocarcinoma. When we encounter isolated bilateral abducens nerve palsies, clivus tumor, including metastasis from lung carcinomas, should be considered.

KEYWORDS:

• Abducens nerve palsies
• bilateral
• clivus
• lung carcinoma
• metastasis