Isolated trigeminal nerve palsy with motor involvement as a presenting manifestation of multiple sclerosis in an equatorial region – a case report

We report a case of isolated right sided trigeminal nerve palsy (Motor and Sensory) in a 34？year old previously well lady from urban Sri Lanka who was found to have characteristic lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging highly suggestive of multiple sclerosis.Multiple sclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with isolated cranial nerve palsies. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion when evaluating such patients especially in low prevalence regions close to the equator. Early recognition and treatment of such a “Clinically Isolated Syndrome” may prevent early relapse.