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. 2007 Dec 31;48(6):963-8.
doi: 10.3349/ymj.2007.48.6.963.

Correlation between MRI and operative findings in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome

In Sup Kim  1 , Seung-Ho Shin, Jinna Kim, Won-Sang Lee, Ho-Ki Lee
Affiliations

Correlation between MRI and operative findings in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome

In Sup Kim et al. Yonsei Med J. .

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance image (MRI) results and surgical findings of facial nerves in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Materials and methods: From 1995 to 2004, MRI was performed on 13 patients with Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome, who were offered with surgical decompression of the facial nerve through the middle cranial fossa approach. Gadolinium enhanced MRI was performed on all patients and the enhancement of the facial nerve was evaluated by radiology specialists. Operative findings including the degree of the facial nerve segment swelling were examined. Furthermore, the time interval from the onset of palsy to surgery was evaluated.

Results: Swelling of facial nerve segments was found in patients with enhanced facial nerves from MRI. The swelling of the facial nerve in the labyrinthine segment in particular was identified in all patients with enhanced labyrinthine segments in MRI. The intraoperative swelling of geniculate ganglion of facial nerve was found in 78% of patients with enhanced facial segment in MRI (p=0.01). The intraoperative swelling of tympanic segment was observed from fourth to ninth weeks after the onset of palsy.

Conclusion: MRI enhancement of facial nerves in Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt syndrome is associated with the extent of intratemporal lesions of facial nerves, especially in the labyrinthine segment.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
MRI and operative findings in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (right). (A) Axial contrast enhanced T1 image demonstrates enhancement from the lateral canalicular to the proximal tympanic segment of right facial nerve (arrow). (B) Coronal T1 weighted Gd-MRI shows enhancement of right facial nerve (arrow). (C) Photograph shows edematous swelling along the decompressed segment of facial nerve in MRI enhanced areas. IC, intracanalicular segment; L, labyrinthine segment; GG, geniculate ganglion; T, tympanic segment; GSPN, greater superficial petrosal nerve.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Correlation between MR enhancement and swelling of facial nerve (p = 0.01).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Facial nerve swelling in accordance with the time interval from the palsy onset to the surgery (p = 0.66).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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