Facial nerve palsy: evaluation by contrast-enhanced MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy.


METHODS
MR imaging was performed in 147 patients with facial nerve palsy, using a 1.0 T unit. All of 147 patients were evaluated by contrast-enhanced MR imaging and the pattern of enhancement was compared with that in 300 control subjects evaluated for suspected acoustic neurinoma.


RESULTS
The intrameatal and labyrinthine segments of the normal facial nerve did not show enhancement, whereas enhancement of the distal intrameatal segment and the labyrinthine segment was respectively found in 67% and 43% of patients with Bell's palsy. The geniculate ganglion or the tympanic-mastoid segment was enhanced in 21% of normal controls versus 91% of patients with Bell's palsy. Abnormal enhancement of the non-paralyzed facial nerve was found in a patient with bilateral temporal bone fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancement of the distal intrameatal and labyrinthine segments is specific for facial nerve palsy. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging can reveal inflammatory facial nerve lesions and traumatic nerve injury, including clinically silent damage in trauma.
Kinoshita
T
T
Department of Radiology, Sendai City Hospital, Japan.
Ishii
K
K
Okitsu
T
T
Okudera
T
T
Ogawa
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003287:Contrast Media; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA