In the context of cancer, cranial neuropathy can be a direct or indirect consequence of the disease. Cancer can lead to cranial neuropathy through several mechanisms:
1. Direct Invasion: Tumors, such as brain tumors or head and neck cancers, can directly invade or compress cranial nerves. 2. Metastasis: Cancers originating from other parts of the body can metastasize to the brain and affect cranial nerves. 3. Paraneoplastic Syndromes: These are rare disorders triggered by an immune response to a cancer elsewhere in the body, which can affect the nervous system. 4. Treatment-Related: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical interventions can sometimes damage cranial nerves.
