Metastatic lesions of midbrain are quite rare, and only unusually they produce isolated cranial nerve palsy.
Methods
We report two cases of 2nd and 3rd cranial nerves impairment, produced by solitary midbrain metastases.
Results
In both patients Magnetic Resonance (MR) allowed a correct diagnosis, subsequently confirmed by histology.
Conclusions
The metastatic involvement of midbrain would be included in the differential diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmic conditions to avoid the risk of misdiagnosis and consequently delay in management of this special population. MR is crucial for early detection of this infrequent pathology.
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