Facial nerve choristoma
A choristoma of the facial nerve is rare, and is characterised by non-neoplastic proliferation of smooth muscle cells and fibrous tissue. It presumably can occur anywhere along the course of the facial nerve (CN VII) although the only cases reported are in the internal acoustic meatus and in the region of the geniculate ganglion.
They are indistinguishable from acoustic schwannomas on imaging, appearing as small circumscribed enhancing soft tissue nodules.
Resection is curative.
Choristomas have also been reported affecting other cranial nerves as well as the eye. See:
