title: Macroscopic and ultrastructural findings in some diseases of the facial nerve.
abstract: The authors describe the findings observed in: 10 cases of Bell's palsy, 1 case of traumatic facial paralysis, 1 case of congenital facial paralysis, and 1 case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The chorda tympani nerve of these patients was studied, employing the electron microscope, comparing it with that of 5 patients having otosclerosis. Our ultrastructural findings appear to confirm that the chorda tympani nerve presents a similar degenerative behaviour in those diseases studied by us. The degenerative stages range from a lesser to greater degree in the following order: Bell's palsy, traumatic facial paralysis, congenital facial paralysis, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008556:Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*