title: Middle ear osteoma causing progressive facial nerve weakness: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facial nerve weakness is most commonly due to Bell's palsy or cerebrovascular accidents. Rarely, middle ear tumor presents with facial nerve dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a very unusual case of middle ear osteoma in a 49-year-old Caucasian woman causing progressive facial nerve deficit. A subtle middle ear lesion was observed on otoscopy and computed tomographic images demonstrated an osseous middle ear tumor. Complete surgical excision resulted in the partial recovery of facial nerve function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facial nerve dysfunction is rarely caused by middle ear tumors. The weakness is typically due to a compressive effect on the middle ear portion of the facial nerve. Early recognition is crucial since removal of these lesions may lead to the recuperation of facial nerve function.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Manohar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bance
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: IWK Health Centre, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, 5850/5980 University Avenue, PO Box 9700, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada. Paul.Hong@iwk.nshealth.ca.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010016:Osteoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods