Case Report Recurrent Painful Ophthalmoplegic Neuropathy

Abstract

This is a case report of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy (RPON), a rare disorder characterized by recurrent unilateral headaches and paralysis of the ocular cranial nerves. The condition was previously referred to as ophthalmoplegic migraine but was renamed due to potential misinterpretation of its underlying mechanisms. The case involves a 16-year-old female patient treated at the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. She experienced episodes of headache, periorbital pain, and cranial nerve paresis. Neurological examinations and imaging tests ruled out other causes. After diagnosis of RPON was considered, the patient received corticosteroid treatment. This article case report discusses the diagnostic criteria, clinical features, atypical aspects of the case, diagnostic challenges, treatment options, and the unresolved pathophysiology of RPON. Since RPON is a rare syndrome, research relies on observational studies and case reports like the one presented to enhance understanding and treatment approaches.