Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy: an unusual presentation of glioblastoma multiforme. Case report and review of the literature

The authors present a case of a very unusual clinical presentation of an in tra-axial supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in a 63 year old dia betic female patient presenting with a three week history of left progressi ve complete oculomotor nerve palsy. CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a left intra-axial mesial temporal glioblastoma multif orme. Operative resection and microscopic examination of a tissue specimen confirmed the diagnosis. The nature of the tumor, the pattern of spread and the postulated mechanisms of such a presentation are discussed. The author s suggest including the diagnosis of GBM in the differential diagnosis of p atients with isolated complete oculomotor nerve palsy at the appropriate ag e group.