title: Evaluating facial paralysis. Expensive diagnostic tests are often unnecessary.
abstract: In most cases, the cause of facial paralysis can be determined on the basis of the clinical evaluation, and expensive diagnostic tests can be avoided. Because Bell's palsy is not always the cause, physicians need to be able to identify critical findings on history and physical examination that indicate an alternative diagnosis. Once identified, these findings can lead to a specific and directed evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee, College of Medicine, Memphis 38163, USA. mruckenstein@utmem1.utmem.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ruckenstein
mesh_terms: D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans