Paraneoplastic Ophthalmoplegia as the Presenting Sign of Paediatric Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive glioma that is infrequently diagnosed in the paediatric population. GBM and other primary brain tumours have rarely been associated with paraneoplastic syndromes. We report an unusual case of an 8-year-old boy presenting with an inability to abduct his left eye and almost complete ophthalmoplegia of his right eye, prior to any radiological evidence of GBM. This is the first documented case of paediatric GBM presenting with bilateral asymmetric ophthalmoplegia.

KEYWORDS:

• Ocular motility disorders
• ophthalmoplegia
• central nervous system neoplasms
• glioblastoma
• paraneoplastic syndromes
• paediatrics

Acknowledgements

Dr Donald Lee for expertise in neuro-radiological imaging interpretation.

Declaration of interest statement

CJ has done consulting work for QxMD. Her fellowship was funded by the Canadian League Against Epilepsy through UCB.