title: Bell's palsy with ipsilateral numbness.
abstract: Bell's palsy is an idiopathic facial palsy of the peripheral type. A herpes virus is the most likely mechanism. We report a patient with the often encountered combination of a facial palsy with ipsilateral sensory changes. Magnetic resonance imaging showed had contrast enhancement in the greater petrosal nerve. Viral spread through anatomical connections could be an explanation for the association of facial palsy with numbness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, AZ Sint Jan, Brugge, Belgium. ludo.vanopdenbosch@azbrugge.be
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Vanopdenbosch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Casselman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D005830:Geniculate Ganglion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000473:pathology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity