[Periarteritis of the carotid siphon (Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, painful ophthalmoplegia)].

A detailed clinical analysis of 5 cases of Tolos-Hunt's syndrome is presented, and the most characteristic diagnostic signs and the peculiarities of the clinical syndrome formation are described. These signs and peculiarities are: regular presence (from the very beginning) of the symptoms of involvement of the carotid artery sympathetic plexus and absence of any other symptoms on the part of the brain stem, the hemispheres, and the meninges. Since this syndrome can be simulated by a number of other organic diseases and primarily, by an infraclinoid aneurysm, the use of carotid angiography is obligatory in all cases. No connection between the disease onset and any local or systemic inflammatory process was discovered. The positive effect from the application of corticosteroids should not be regarded as a diagnostic criterion. Instead of the names "Tolos-Hunt's syndrome" and "pain ophthalmoplegia" the terms "Tolos-Hunt's" periarteritis of the carotid siphon" or "Tolos-Hunt's disease" are suggested.