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Clinical and Radiological Findings Suggesting Disorders Other Than T olosa– H unt Syndrome Among Ophthalmoplegic Patients: A Retrospective Analysis
Author(s) -
Hung ChihHsien,
Chang KuoHsuan,
Chen YaoLiang,
Wu YiMing,
Lai ChiouLian,
Chang HongShiu,
Lyu RongKuo,
Wu YihRu,
Chen ChiungMei,
Huang ChinChang,
Chu ChunChe,
Chen ChunHung,
Ro LongSun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.12488
Subject(s) - medicine , tolosa–hunt syndrome , diplopia , radiological weapon , magnetic resonance imaging , etiology , retrospective cohort study , radiology , cavernous sinus , medical diagnosis , pediatrics , surgery
Objective To investigate clinical and radiological features of T olosa– H unt syndrome ( THS ) and examine their diagnostic value, and to propose clinical and radiological features that indicate other symptomatic painful ophthalmoplegias ( SPOs ) in order to distinguish them from THS . Background Clinical presentations of THS are nonspecific and may overlap with many etiologies. Therefore, excluding other SPOs is essential for correct diagnosis. At the present time, the predictive value of the current I nternational C lassification of H eadache D isorders ( ICHD ) criteria is not well established, and specific imaging markers that can discriminate SPOs from THS are lacking. Methods Patients referred with painful ophthalmoplegia over 12 years were recruited retrospectively and allocated into THS or SPO groups. Typical symptoms (episodic unilateral orbital pain preceding or developing with diplopia) and imaging of THS (inflammatory lesions in the cavernous sinus/orbit by magnetic resonance imaging) were proposed based on ICHD ‐3 beta criteria and previous literature. Atypical clinical and radiological features suggesting alternative diagnoses were also proposed to predict SPO . Initial presentations and imaging findings were registered and correlated with diagnostic outcomes. The predictive value of clinical and imaging findings was then evaluated. Results Of the 61 referred cases, 25 were classified as THS and 36 as SPO . Of the SPO cases, 52.8% manifested typical THS symptoms at onset. Patients with SPOs were prone to have atypical symptoms (47.2%) and radiographical findings (82.1%) in comparison to those with THS (4.0% and 4.2%, respectively; both P < .001). Both typical symptoms and imaging findings predicted a diagnosis of THS with high sensitivity (95.8% and 100%, respectively) but low specificity (47.2% and 28.6%, respectively). High sensitivity (82.1%) and specificity (95.8%) were achieved using atypical imaging features to predict SPO .Conclusion A diagnosis of THS based strictly on clinical presentations or imaging results is not completely reliable. Identification of atypical imaging features may have a useful role in discriminating SPOs and thus avoid erroneous diagnoses of THS . Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to evaluate their validity in general population.