Lateral rectus atrophy in cavernous sinus thrombosis

Excerpt

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is thrombophlebitis in the cavernous sinus, which may occur as a complication of midfacial infections, paranasal sinusitis, pharyngitis, and rarely otitis media or dental infections. Although mortality from CST has dropped from almost 100% to less than around 30% with the advent of antibiotics, CST remains a devastating disease with many long-term sequelae including cerebral infarcts, pituitary insufficiency, blindness and external ophthalmoplegia [1]. This article presents a unique case of CST with irreversible internal carotid artery (ICA) narrowing and isolated, acute lateral rectus muscle denervation with subsequent atrophy. …