Abstract
A 67-year-old woman who complained of hearing disturbance and a tumor in the external auditory canal experienced complete facial palsy for 30 years. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tumor that destroyed the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, mastoid process, and extended beyond the stylomastoid foramen. We confirmed these findings during surgery, and removed the tumor piece by piece at the intratemporal lesion. Because of the duration of the facial palsy, we did not graft another nerve or connect the hypoglossal nerve. We must consider facial nerve neurinomas in patients with facial nerve palsy, especially if the condition worsens or repeats. We should pay close attention to patients who show unilateral facial nerve palsy on CT or MRI of the intratemporal bone and extratemporal bone in order to find the neurinoma in the early stage.
