Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy Associated with Ruptured Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm: Rare Neurologic Finding.

Background: Isolated abducens nerve palsy can be the presenting sign of a ruptured PICA aneurysm. Few cases have been reported in the literature. In the majority of cases, cranial nerve VI resolved following microsurgical clipping.

Methods: Here, we report a 56-year-old female who presented with a ruptured 4 mm × 3 mm left PICA aneurysm associated with a left abducens nerve palsy. The patient underwent endovascular coil embolization of the aneurysm and had complete resolution of her abducens nerve palsy.

Conclusions: Here, we present the first case of an abducens nerve palsy associated with a ruptured PICA aneurysm to completely resolve following endovascular coil embolization. The direction and amount of subarachnoid hemorrhage extravasation from the ruptured aneurysm are most likely responsible for cranial nerve palsy.