Cranial nerve disease
Cranial nerve disease | |
Cranial nerves | |
ICD-10 | G50-G53 |
ICD-9 | 350-352 |
DiseasesDB | 17207 |
MeSH | D003389 |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and keywords: cranial nerve palsy, cranial nerve disorder
Overview
Cranial nerve disease is a term used to describe an impaired functioning of one of the twelve cranial nerves. This results in loss of control of facial muscles, erratic movements of the face muscles, or spastic jerks of the face muscles.
Although it could theoretically be considered a mononeuropathy, it is not considered as such under MeSH.
It is possible for a disorder of more than cranial nerve to occur at the same time, if a trauma occurs at a location where many cranial nerves run together, such as the jugular fossa. A brainstem lesion could also cause impaired functioning of multiple cranial nerves, but this condition would likely also be accompanied by distal motor impairment.
Causes
- Diabetes
- Facial trauma
- Hypertension
- Iatrogenic damage during surgery
- Meningitis
- Multiple sclerosis
Diagnosis
Symptoms
The patient may complain of difficulty smiling, drooping of the face, problems curling their lips, problems controlling eye movements or problems coordinating other facial expressions.
Physical Examination
Neurologic Examination
- Loss of control of facial muscles
- Erratic movements of the face muscles
- Spastic jerks of the face muscles
- Oculomotor nerve palsy - Oculomotor nerve (III)
- Fourth nerve palsy - Trochlear nerve (IV)
- Trigeminal neuralgia - Trigeminal nerve (V)
- Sixth nerve palsy - Abducens nerve (VI)
- Facial nerve paralysis, Bell's palsy, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, Central seven - Facial nerve (VII)
- Accessory nerve disorder - Accessory nerve (XI)