Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy due to neoplasm in infancy

Abstract

A nine-month-old infant presenting with an isolated oculomotor nerve dysfunction was found to have a poorly differentiated neoplasm of the mesencephalon, an unusual presentation of an unusual tumor. Acquired, isolated, third cranial nerve palsy in a child poses a challenging differential diagnosis. Although tumor is a rare cause of this finding, full evaluation for malignancy is warranted in such a case.

Key Words:

• Third nerve palsy
• brainstem glioma
• primitive neuroectodermal tumor