title: Facial nerve schwannoma of the internal auditory canal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial nerve schwannoma of the internal auditory canal is a very rare tumour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  While Bell's palsy is the commonest cause of a facial paresis, more serious causes should be excluded if recovery is delayed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report of a young man who presented with a long standing facial palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Any facial palsy that does not show evidence of recovery within six weeks should be investigated radiologically to exclude a tumour.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Senthilvel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McConn Walsh
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rawluk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery