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Aetiology of cranial nerve palsies

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

There is a specific differential diagnosis of each cranial nerve palsy however the general aetiological principles are listed here:

  • common causes:
    • aneurysm
    • diabetes
    • multiple sclerosis
    • tumour
    • trauma and surgery
    • stroke

  • rarer causes:
    • vasculitides:
      • microscopic polyangitis
      • rheumatoid vasculitis
      • polyarteritis nodosa
    • sarcoidosis
  • infection:
    • Lyme disease
    • syphilis
    • HIV
    • Wernicke's encephalopathy

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