2021 Volume 67 Issue 4 Pages 247-251
In order to diagnose Bell's palsy, we need to rule out other diseases that cause peripheral facial nerve palsy, including neoplastic disease. It is important to identify neoplastic paralysis by MRI. A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a chief complaint of unilateral facial paralysis that had occurred repeatedly for 8 years. Plain MRI was performed multiple times at other hospitals when symptoms appeared in the past, but no obvious tumor was pointed out. This time, in addition to facial nerve paralysis, he was aware of hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness, and was first pointed out to have facial schwannoma by contrast-enhanced MRI. He was treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (50Gy/25Fr). When recurrent facial paralysis symptoms appear, neoplastic paralysis should be suspected and contrast-enhanced MRI should be performed. Furthermore, when necessary, it should be confirmed by imaging studies multiple times.
