Orbital and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in nine
patients with congenital double elevator palsy. On orbital MRI examination,
superior rectus (SR) and inferior rectus (IR) muscles were specifically ev
aluated with sagittal and coronal views. Bell's phenomenon was present in t
hree cases and four patients had positive forced duction tests. The vertica
l recti did not show any difference in either size or signal intensity when
compared to controls. There was no denervation atrophy in the SR muscle. O
n cranial MRI examination, we were unable to demonstrate any abnormal signa
l intensity. The results of this study suggest that a paretic SR muscle is
unlikely to be responsible for the clinical picture in congenital double el
evator palsy, since a paretic SR muscle causing such a severe limitation of
upgaze would be expected to have denervation atrophy.