title: Paraganglioma of the facial nerve, a rare differential diagnosis for facial nerve paralysis: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: This report describes a rare case of histopathologically confirmed glomus facial tumor. The role of imaging in the differential diagnosis is discussed and therapeutic options are evaluated, along with a review of the previous literature on glomus facial tumors. A 39-year-old male patient presented with total peripheral facial nerve paralysis. He underwent radical tumor resection and facial nerve grafting for a histopathologically confirmed paraganglioma of the facial nerve. He is now tumor-free after a 4-year follow-up period, and the functional outcome after primary nerve grafting is satisfactory. Facial nerve paragangliomas are a rare cause of facial nerve paralysis. Early imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is essential to clarify the differential diagnosis and assess the location and extent of the tumor. Precise pathological diagnosis requires additional targeted immunohistochemical examinations. The treatment of choice in patients with preoperative facial nerve paralysis is radical tumor resection with nerve reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Erlangen Medical School, University of Erlangen, Waldstrasse 1, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. julian.kuenzel@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Künzel
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zenk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003390:Cranial Nerve Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000637:transplantation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
references.citation: Radiol Clin North Am. 2000 Sep;38(5):1059-76
references.pmid: 11054969
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 2008 Feb;118(2):270-4
references.pmid: 18030172
references.citation: Head Neck. 2002 May;24(5):423-31
references.pmid: 12001071
references.citation: Am J Otolaryngol. 1999 Sep-Oct;20(5):318-22
references.pmid: 10512142
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1978 Nov;92(11):949-67
references.pmid: 213516
references.citation: Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986 Sep;112(9):986-7
references.pmid: 3017383
references.citation: Neurol Sci. 2009 Dec;30(6):479-85
references.pmid: 19774334
references.citation: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1985 Apr;93(2):146-7
references.pmid: 3921901
references.citation: Fam Cancer. 2005;4(1):55-9
references.pmid: 15883711
references.citation: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1990 Feb;102(2):101-5
references.pmid: 2162512
references.citation: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1996 Jan;17(1):171-4
references.pmid: 8770272
references.citation: Neurosurgery. 2006 Nov;59(5):1030-6; discussion 1036
references.pmid: 17143237
references.citation: Eur Radiol. 2005 Jul;15(7):1310-8
references.pmid: 15809825
references.citation: Skull Base. 2006 Nov;16(4):185-91
references.pmid: 17471317
references.citation: Acta Otolaryngol. 2010 Oct;130(10):1193-8
references.pmid: 20441526
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 2008 Sep;122(9):986-9
references.pmid: 17640437