title: Pathology of the facial nerve.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiologie I, Hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg Cedex, France. francis.veillon@chru-strasbourg.fr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veillon
authors.forename: L Ramos
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Taboada
authors.forename: M Abu
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riehm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charpiot
mesh_terms: 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