Correlation between MRI and operative findings in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance image (MRI) results and surgical findings of facial nerves in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome.


METHODS
From 1995 to 2004, MRI was performed on 13 patients with Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome, who were offered with surgical decompression of the facial nerve through the middle cranial fossa approach. Gadolinium enhanced MRI was performed on all patients and the enhancement of the facial nerve was evaluated by radiology specialists. Operative findings including the degree of the facial nerve segment swelling were examined. Furthermore, the time interval from the onset of palsy to surgery was evaluated.


RESULTS
Swelling of facial nerve segments was found in patients with enhanced facial nerves from MRI. The swelling of the facial nerve in the labyrinthine segment in particular was identified in all patients with enhanced labyrinthine segments in MRI. The intraoperative swelling of geniculate ganglion of facial nerve was found in 78% of patients with enhanced facial segment in MRI (p=0.01). The intraoperative swelling of tympanic segment was observed from fourth to ninth weeks after the onset of palsy.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI enhancement of facial nerves in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome is associated with the extent of intratemporal lesions of facial nerves, especially in the labyrinthine segment.
Kim
In Sup
IS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 612 Eonjuro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea. hoki@yuhs.ac.
Shin
Seung-Ho
SH
Kim
Jinna
J
Lee
Won-Sang
WS
Lee
Ho-Ki
HK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results