Pontine hemorrhage presenting as an isolated facial nerve palsy.
We report a case of an isolated facial nerve palsy in a young, otherwise healthy man who was found to have a pontine hemorrhage on computed tomography. Pontine hemorrhage is a rare cause of facial nerve palsy and has been reported in the literature as an isolated neurologic finding in only 1 other instance. This case reminds the emergency physician to remain vigilant for alternative causes of facial nerve palsy other than "idiopathic" Bell's palsy.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. ssherman@ccbh.org
Scott C
SC
Sherman
Trevonne M
TM
Thompson
Trevonne T
TT
Thompson
D000328:Adult; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011149:Pons; D016896:Treatment Outcome