Differential Diagnosis For Abducens Nerve Palsy (Sixth Nerve Palsy): Disease Categories

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to covering the differential diagnosis for abducens nerve palsy. This differential will be organized by disease categories.

RBO revisada JAN-FEV-13-en.pmd
Clinical appearance of left abducens nerve palsy (source)
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DISEASE CATEGORIES?

When thinking about the differential for abducens nerve palsy the following disease categories come to mind:

  • Neoplastic
  • Vascular 
  • Infectious 
  • Autoimmune
  • Inflammatory
  • Iatrogenic
  • Other
WHAT ARE NEOPLASTIC CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are neoplasms that can cause abducens nerve palsy:

  • Pontine glioma: this tumor from the brainstem can directly compress the cranial nerve.
  • Posterior fossa tumors can cause increased intracranial pressure which can indirectly compress the cranial nerve.
WHAT ARE VASCULAR CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are vascular causes for abducens nerve palsy:

  • Aneurysm 
  • Ischemia 
WHAT ARE INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are infectious causes for abducens nerve palsy:

WHAT ARE AUTOIMMUNE CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are autoimmune causes for abducens nerve palsy:

WHAT ARE INFLAMMATORY CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are inflammatory causes for abducens nerve palsy:

WHAT ARE IATROGENIC CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are iatrogenic causes for abducens nerve palsy:

  • Neurosurgical trauma 
WHAT ARE OTHER CAUSES OF THIS PRESENTATION?

The following are other causes for abducens nerve palsy:

  • Pseudotumor cerebrithis condition can cause increased intracranial pressure which can compress the nerve.
  • Venous sinus thrombosis: this condition can cause increased intracranial pressure which can compress the nerve
  • Trauma such as a medial wall orbital fracture or other blows to the head. Trauma can cause direct/indirect pressure on the nerve.
  • Congenital: can be the result of birth trauma, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy

 

Page Updated: 11.30.2016