title: Management of intratemporal facial nerve schwannoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to report a series of 18 facial nerve schwannomas, including 2 infantile cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with facial nerve schwannoma, operated on between 1980 and 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical treatments were performed in all cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presenting symptoms and facial nerve function were graded using the House-Brackmann scale and eye closure. RESULTS Facial nerve paralysis was the most common symptom, presenting in 94% of cases, followed by hearing loss and mass lesion. In one case, the tumor was shaved, leaving the facial nerve intact. In the other cases, the facial nerve reconstruction with hypoglossal-facial anastomosis or interposition graft was performed. The postoperative facial function was House-Brackmann grade IV in most cases (88.2%). In terms of the functional recovery classified by complete or incomplete eye closure, the moderate preoperative facial nerve palsy group showed a better functional outcome than severe group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases with good facial nerve function, it would be better to consider an alternative method for preserving the facial nerve. Furthermore, when facial nerve paralysis has developed to more than House-Brackmann grade III, an immediate operation is recommended to obtain a good postoperative facial functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chongkom@plaza.snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Chong-Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seung Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Soon-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Chan Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyo Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013703:Temporal Muscle