Concurrence of bilateral facial nerve palsy and sudden sensorineural hearing loss : A case report

Abstract

Bilateral facial nerve palsy (FNP) and bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) are both rare diseases, and their concurrence is extremely rare. We herein report a 24-year-old healthy man who developed sequential bilateral facial paralysis and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at almost the same time. He first developed left-sided SSNHL, which was resolved through steroid therapy. However, four weeks later, right-sided SSNHL and left-sided FNP occurred, and three weeks after that, right-sided FNP also appeared. Entities such as sarcoidosis and Guillain-Barre syndrome often cause bilateral FNP or SSNHL, but there was nothing of note in his medical history or any remarkable physical findings, laboratory data or imaging studies. Given the lack of evidence of any other diseases, we diagnosed him with bilateral heterochronic metasomatism FNP and SSNHL. He was treated with steroid therapy, and all of his symptoms resolved. FNP and SSNHL both tend to have a prognosis, but their pathogenesis remains unclear in some respects. This case suggests the possible presence of a common cause of these two diseases, such an unknown virus or autoimmune disorder.