2005 Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 115-120
In the head and neck region, VZV reactivation is often associated with cranial nerve paralysis, as represented by Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves are also often impaired by VZV reactivation. Most reported cases present with other cranial nerve paralysis, and there are few case reports of isolated nerve paralysis of lower cranial nerves. Although early administration of anti-VZV agents are well known to be very effective, early diagnosis of pharyngolaryngeal VZV infection are not always easy. We present two cases of isolated vagus nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve paralysis caused by VZV reactivation. They were diagnosed by precise endoscopic examination and direct immunofluorescence staining by a monoclonal antibody specific for VZV on the samples from the pharyngolaryngeal mucosal lesions.
