Postoperative Ramsay-Hunt syndrome after acoustic neuroma resection. Viral reactivation.
The aim of this paper is to present a patient suffering from acoustic neuroma and operated on with immediate postoperative hearing and facial function preservation who developed delayed Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case in whom a postoperative delayed facial palsy and hearing loss occurred. The patient gave an history of previously diagnosed herpes zoster reactivation limited to chest one-year before. This is undoubtdetly a predisposing factor for development of delayed facial palsy. It must not be underestimated and it obliges to consider a prophylaxis. Theoretically, the prophylactic antiviral therapy might prevent the evolution towards the herpes zoster oticus or reduce the severity of the symptoms allowing the preservation of the hearing function. It would be pointed out that the delayed facial plasy has favourable prognosis, while the hearing impairment may recover with a greater difficulty even after an antiviral treatment as in our case.
Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology And Phoniatrics Department, G. Ferreri, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Magliulo
Raffaello
R
D'Amico
Alessandra
A
Celebrini
Giuseppe
G
Cuiuli
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir