Magnetic resonance angiography and clinical evaluation of third nerve palsies and posterior communicating artery aneurysms

Abstract

Only the presence of complete external third nerve palsy and normal pupil function allowed ischemia to be clinically distinguished from a PCoA aneurysm in a patient with isolated third nerve palsy and no subarachnoid hemorrhage. When source image MR angiography demonstrates normal findings, catheter-based angiography need not be performed in these patients, even if pupil function is abnormal.