[A case of ophthalmoplegic migraine: swelling and Gd-DTPA enhancement of the oculomotor nerve on MRI].

We report here a 9-year-old girl with ophthalmoplegic migraine. At the age of 2 years and 6 months she first developed left ptosis and ophthalmoparesis that resolved gradually within 2 weeks. She experienced similar episodes repeatedly. After 5 years of age, left periorbital pulsatile pain preceded ptosis and ophthalmoparesis, and after 7 years, she showed permanent left third nerve paresis even between the attacks. On cranial MRI the left oculomotor nerve showed swelling and contrast enhancement, the latter being more prominent in the ictal than interictal images. Ophthalmoplegic migraine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of opthalmoplegia in children even in the absence of headache. The diagnosis is strongly suspected when MRI demonstrates swelling and enhancement of the oculomotor nerve.