title: Cavernous angioma of the geniculate ganglion.
abstract: Intracranial extraaxial cavernous angiomas are rare vascular malformations. Their occurrence at the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve within the temporal bone is exceptional. The authors describe a 35-year-old man who developed a slowly progressing facial palsy. Initial cranial MR imaging showed no pathological findings, but 2 years later another MR examination detected a small tumor located at the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve. The tumor was removed via a subtemporal approach. Histological examination revealed a cavernous angioma. Even small cavernomas located at the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve may result in facial palsy. Isolated facial palsy in a young person should be monitored closely using imaging studies even if the initial imaging study is negative. Early decompression of the facial nerve may help to preserve its function.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurosurgery, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Holger
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Capelle
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Almuth
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brandis
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haubitz
authors.forename: Joachim K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Krauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005830:Geniculate Ganglion; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male