Painful ophthalmoplegia of the right eye in a 20-year-old man.

BACKGROUND

Painful ophthalmoplegia is an infrequent but very important presentation in the acute care setting and requires a thorough neurologic evaluation to determine its cause. This clinical sign has a large differential and generally indicates a serious cerebrovascular process.

CASE REPORT: We describe a patient with a subacute presentation of painful ophthalmoplegia, ultimately diagnosed as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome, a rare inflammatory process of the cavernous sinus.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance for the Emergency Physician to quickly recognize painful ophthalmoplegia and rapidly elucidate the cause to prevent further complications for the patient.