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Bell palsy

Case contributed by Mostafa Elfeky
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Left facial nerve palsy.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

Petrous bone

mri

Diffuse enhancement along the entire length of the left facial nerve extending anteriorly along the greater superficial petrosal nerve.

No focal or diffuse expansion is seen along the course of the left facial nerve.

Case Discussion

Facial neuritis (Bell's palsy) is considered clinically with rapid onset unilateral facial paralysis. MRI is the modality of choice for assessment. Uniform long segment of enhancement of facial nerve is characteristic, especially around the geniculate ganglion. It is important to differentiate this from normal facial nerve enhancement.

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