Pathology of the facial nerve.
A good examination in facial nerve imaging (CT or MR imaging) depends on a good knowledge of anatomy. Two clinical situations must be considered: imaging of patients with or without facial palsy. CT and MR imaging are very useful when the symptoms are atypical or progressive: MR imaging gives very good information about the facial nerve inflammation but may also discover a schwannoma, a hemangioma, a meningioma, or a primitive or secondary cholesteatoma. In malignant tumors of the parotid gland, a study of the fallopian canal must always be performed to delineate an extension in the mastoid, tympanic, or intrameatic parts. In some rare cases, a metastasis in the temporal bone may occur, especially in the region of the geniculate ganglion. Particular attention must be paid to children with facial palsy, considering the possibility of a histiocytosis or metastasis of a neuroblastoma.
Veillon
F
F
Service de Radiologie I, Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg Cedex, France. francis.veillon@chru-strasbourg.fr
Taboada
L Ramos
LR
Eid
M Abu
MA
Riehm
S
S
Debry
C
C
Schultz
P
P
Charpiot
A
A
D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography