A 22-year-old woman complains to her family physician of headaches and difficulty looking up. She explains that the symptoms have developed gradually over a period of several weeks. Physical examination reveals that the woman has large irregular pupils, paralysis of upward gaze in both eyes, impaired convergence, and bilateral ptosis. A magnetic resonance imaging scan is most likely to show a tumor in which of the following areas?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including difficulty looking up (paralysis of upward gaze), impaired convergence, and bilateral ptosis, along with large irregular pupils, suggest Parinaud's syndrome. This syndrome is often associated with a tumor in the pineal region, which can compress the tectal plate of the midbrain, affecting the vertical gaze centers.

A 22-Year-Old Woman Complains to Her Family Physician of Headaches