Radiology, Vol 155, 659-663, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
Peripheral facial nerve dysfunction: CT evaluation
MA Disbro, HR Harnsberger and AG Osborn
Peripheral facial nerve dysfunction may have a clinically apparent or
occult cause. We reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of 36
patients with peripheral facial nerve dysfunction to obtain information on
the location of the suspected lesion and the number, sequence, and type of
radiographic evaluations performed. Inadequate clinical evaluations before
computed tomography (CT) was done and unnecessary CT examinations were also
noted. In those patients in whom the cause of peripheral facial nerve
dysfunction is apparent, the clinical- radiographic workup is self-evident.
When the cause of dysfunction is occult, however, a tailored CT examination
should be done based on a thorough clinical evaluation. We have suggested a
practical clinical and radiographic scheme to evaluate progressive
peripheral facial dysfunction with no apparent cause. If this scheme is
applied, unnecessary radiologic tests and delays in diagnosis and treatment
may be avoided.
