title: Hemifacial spasm: case report.
abstract: A 53 year old lady with diabetes mellitus presented with right hemi-facial spasm (HFS). Brain MRI Scan revealed extensive pan-sinusitis and mild bilateral mastoiditis. She responded well to intravenous ceftriaxone therapy and the hemifacial spasm resolved. The symptoms of hemifacial spasm and pain over the right cheek and peri-orbital area recurred after three weeks. She was admitted to hospital for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS); following findings on repeat para-nasal sinus CT-Scan. Several reviews over six month's period revealed complete resolution of hemi facial spasm symptoms save for mild intermittent right blepharospasm; particularly on exposure to wind. This is a very rare cause of hemifacial spasm and clinicians should be on the look out for infective/inflammatory aetiology of hemifacial spasm; particularly in patients who present with recent onset HFS and have features of infection and or inflammation in the cranium.
authors.affiliation: Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 19624-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Jowi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matende
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Macharia
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications*