[Brainstem ptosis (midbrain ptosis) associated with mesencephalic hemorrhage].

We reported a patient with a brainstem ptosis (midbrain ptosis) associated with mesencephalic hemorrhage. A 57-year-old woman had the sudden onset of bilateral blepharoptosis and diplopia. On admission, computed tomography of the brain and magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a small hematoma in the left tegmentum of midbrain. She had no past history of hypertension of head trauma. Cerebral angiography gave no additional informations. The lesion involving the central caudal subnucleus of IIIrd nerve nucleus may be responsible for the bilateral ptosis, since this finding is consistent with current models of oculomotor organization in monkeys (Warwick 1953).