Orbital phlebography evaluation in 8 cases of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS), or painful ophthalmoplegia is associated to a non-specific granulomatosis of unknown etiology, that involves the superior orbital fissure and its nervous and vascular structures. The clinical picture that responds to steroid therapy, is variable and is always associated with pain. Inflammatory conditions, tumors and aneurysms can produce similar symptoms. Computed tomography, cerebral angiography and orbital phlebography are the imaging methods of choice for making the diagnosis. We revised the results of these radiological examinations of eight patients seen at the Hospital São Paulo from 1989 to 1991, with the diagnosis of THS according to Hunt and Hannerz criteria. The analysis of orbital phlebographic changes based upon Hannerz et al. systematization showed non-specific features, but those were able to help the diagnosis.