[Recurrent facial paresis with facial neurinoma].
METHODS
A clinical case of a 49-year-old man is described who presented with a right facial paresis for 4 weeks. The patient had undergone a decompression of facial nerve and a radical mastoidectomy elsewhere in 1998 because of a facial paresis and acute mastoiditis. In the following years a complete right facial paresis occurred several times improving with prednisolone. In addition to topognostic examinations a high resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone was made. CT showed a mass in the right tympanic cavity with close contact to the ossicular chain. Diagnostic tympanotomy disclosed a tumor of the tympanic segment of the facial nerve. Pathological examination indicated a diagnosis of neurinoma with an Antoni B architecture. In a second operation the tumor was resected totally and a facial nerve reconstruction was performed by a greater auricular nerve interposition graft. Seven month postoperative beginning nerve reinnervation was seen proceeding continually until the control examination after 1 1/2 year.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial neurinoma are a rare course of facial paresis. There are no specific symptoms. That's why the diagnosis is difficult. But it is necessary to think of with differential diagnosis of facial paresis.
Scholz
E
E
Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, AMEOS-Klinikum St. Salvator Halberstadt GmbH, Halberstadt. escholz@hno.salvator-kh.de
Langer
J
J
Begall
K
K
D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed