Abducens neuropathy detected by three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging using a multiplanar reconstruction technique with gadolinium-DTPA enhancement.

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI) using a multiplanar reconstruction technique with gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) enhancement was used for assessment of a 20-year-old woman who had sudden complete restriction of abduction in the right eye. The 3D MRI revealed abducens nerve enhancement in the cisternal portion. An enhanced lesion was also observed in the right lower pons at the pontomedullary junction. These clinical and 3D-MRI findings were diagnosed as right abducens palsy due to abducens neuropathy. Observation of the entire pathway of the cisternal portion of the cranial nerves can be extremely useful in patients with ophthalmoplegia.