Tolosa–Hunt syndrome

As Tolosa - Hunt syndrome ( Orbitaspitzensyndrom, ophthalmoplegia dolorosa ) is a painful paralysis of eye muscles called that of the Spanish neurosurgeons Eduardo Tolosa ( 1900-1981 ) and his U.S. colleagues William Edward Hunt ( 1921-1999 ) was first described.

Patients complain of sharp, severe pain behind the eye. Furthermore paralysis occur on the supplied by the oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve and abducens nerve eye muscles.

It is based on a chronic granulomatous inflammation of the orbital structures located behind the base of the skull, namely the so-called orbital apex, as well as of the adjacent cavernous sinus, a network of venous blood vessels. The cause of this inflammation that affects almost exclusively adults is unknown. For the treatment corticosteroids are used. The prognosis is favorable, but may recurrences. Ruling out possible underlying malignant disease and controls the imaging diagnostics are required in each case.