title: [Peripheral facial paralysis as the first symptom of unknown metastatic primary tumor].
abstract: The spread of metastases to the brain and the leptomeninges is usually a terminal event in patients with known malignancies. We report on two patients, in whom the diagnosis of a diffusely metastasizing carcinoma was considerably delayed by the initial symptom of a peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The clinical, neuroradiologic and cerebrospinal fluid findings are discussed. A malignant neoplasm with diffuse or focal metastasis to the leptomeninges is a rare cause of peripheral facial paralysis of unclear genesis. The necessity of a lumbar puncture plus magnetic resonance imaging of the brain to enable an early diagnosis is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenkranke.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Braunwarth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Claus
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grehl
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Die periphere Fazialisparese als Erstsymptom bei unbekanntem metastasierendem Primärtumor.