title: Correlation of MRI, clinical, and electroneuronographic findings in acute facial nerve palsy.
abstract: Intratemporal enhancement of (Gd-DTPA) was investigated by an interleaved-overlapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in 35 cases of acute facial palsy. In a reference group (normal facial function), enhancement was localized from the ganglion geniculi to the stylomastoid foramen. In cases of acute palsy, the facial nerve enhanced in the meatal fundus independent of etiology (idiopathic, herpetic, or traumatic). In 70% of those with Ramsay-Hunt syndrome, the vestibular and cochlear nerves, the labyrinth, and the sheets of the internal and external auditory canal additionally enhanced. No correlation was found between intensity, extension, and duration of the enhancement and the clinical, intraoperative, or electroneuronographic degree of the facial palsy. The pathogenesis of the Gd-DTPA enhancement of the facial nerve appears to be closely connected with the vascular supply of the fallopian canal and the permeability of the neural sheets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brändle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satoretti-Schefer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böhmer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wichmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fisch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000503:physiopathology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery