Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T14:16:23.550Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Early diagnosis and treatment of Ramsay Hunt syndrome: the role of magnetic resonance imaging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. J. Kuo ,
P. C. Drago ,
D. W. Proops  and
S. V. Chavda
M. J. Kuo*
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
P. C. Drago
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
D. W. Proops
Affiliation:
Departments of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
S. V. Chavda
Affiliation:
Departments of Radiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
*
Mr Michael Kuo, F.R.C.S., 5 Belgrove Close, Richmond Hill Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3RQ. Fax: 0121-455 8312.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with left otalgia, rotatory vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss and acute facial nerve palsy. An enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed discrete enhancement of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves in the left internal auditory canal as well as of the labyrinth. This appearance was compatible with that in Ramsay Hunt syndrome and acyclovir was started prior to the appearance of any vesicular eruption. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed serologically. She regained full facial function but the sensorineural hearing loss persisted. The literature pertaining to the role of the MRI in acute facial palsies is reviewed.

Keywords

Magnetic resonance imagingHerpes zoster oticusFacial paralysis
Type
Radiology in Focus
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 109 , Issue 8 , August 1995 , pp. 777 - 780
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, R. F., Laskoff, J. M. (1990) MR findings in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. American Journal of Neuroradiology 11(2): 409.Google Scholar
Brugel, F. J., Grevers, G., Vogl, T., Jurgens, M. (1993) Reliability of diagnostic procedures in facial paralysis with special reference to magnetic resonance tomography. Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie 72(10): 506–510.Google ScholarPubMed
Cobo, L. M., Foulks, G. N., Liesegang, T., Lass, J., Sutphin, J. E., Wilhelmus, K., Jones, D. B., Chapman, S., Segreti, A. C., King, D. H. (1986) Oral acyclovir in the treatment of acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus Opthalmology 96(6): 763–770.Google Scholar
Crabtree, J. A. (1968) Herpes zoster oticus. Laryngocope 78: 1853–1878.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Daniels, D. L., Czervionke, L. F., Millen, S. J., Haberkamp, T. J., Meyer, G. A., Hendrix, L. F., Mark, L. P., Williams, A. L., Haughton, V. M. (1989) MR imaging of facial nerve enhancement in Bell's palsy or after temporal bone surgery. Radiology 171: 807–809.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Devriese, P. P., Moesker, W. H. (1988) The natural history of facial paralysis in herpes zoster. Clinical Otolaryngology 13: 289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Engstrom, M., Thoumas, K. A., Naeser, P., Stalberg, E., Jonsson, L. (1993) Facial nerve enhancement in Bell's palsy demonstrated by different gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 199(2): 221–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ethoim, B., Schuknecht, H. F. (1983) Pathological findings and surgical implication in herpes zoster oticus. Advances in Otorhinolarvngology 31: 184–190.Google Scholar
Girard, N., Poncet, M., Chays, A., Florence, A., Gignac, D., Magnan, J., Raybaud, C. (1993) MRI exploration of the intrapetrous facial nerve. Journal of Neuroradiology 20(4): 226–238.Google ScholarPubMed
Hunt, J. R. (1907) On herpetic inflammations of the geniculate ganglion and its complications. Journal of Neurological and Mental Diseases 34: 73–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isono, M., Tanaka, H., Murata, K., Azuma, H. (1994) Quantitative analyses for facial nerve MR imaging. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 97(7): 1229–1234.Google ScholarPubMed
Jonsson, L., Hemmingsson, A., Thomander, L., Bergstrom, K., Stalberg, E., Thoumas, K. A. (1990) Magnetic resonance in Bell's palsy. American Journal of Otology 11(3): 153–156.Google ScholarPubMed
Kohsyu, H., Aoyagi, M., Tojima, H., Tada, Y., Inamura, H., Ikarashi, T., Koike, Y. (1994) Facial nerve enhancement in Gd-MRI in patients with Bell's palsy. Acta Otolaryngologica 511(suppl): 165–169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Korzec, K., Sobol, S. M., Kubal, W., Mester, S. J., Winzelberg, G., May, M. (1991) Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the facial nerve in herpes zoster oticus and Bell's palsy: clinical implications. American Journal of Otology 12(3): 163–168.Google ScholarPubMed
Mair, I. W. S., Flugsrund, L. B. (1976) Peripheral palsy and herpes zoster infection. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 90: 373–379.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Millen, S. J., Daniels, D., Meyer, G. (1990) Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of facial nerve lesions. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 102(1): 26–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, T. P. (1991) MRI of the facial nerve during paralysis. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 104(1): 47–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, T. P., Teller, D. C. (1991) Magnetic resonance imaging of the facial nerve during Bell's palsy. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 105(5): 667–674.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Navarrete, M. L., Rovira, A., Sanchez, M. C., Quesada, P. (1993) Bell's facial paralysis Study with magnetic resonance and gadolinium. Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola 544(2): 95–100.Google Scholar
Osumi, A., Tien, R. D. (1990) MR findings in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography 14(6): 991–903.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robillard, R. B., Hilsinger, R. L. Jr., Adour, K. K. (1986) Ramsay Hunt facial paralysis: clinical analysis of 185 patients. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 95: 292–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sartoretti-Schefer, S., Wichmann, W., Valavanis, A. (1994) Idiopathic, herpetic and HI V-associated facial nerve palsies: abnormal MR enhancement patterns American Journal of Neuroradiology 15(3): 479–485.Google Scholar
Schwaber, M. K., Larson, T. C., 3rd., Zealear, D. L., Creasy, J. (1990) Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope 100(12): 1264–1269.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stafford, F. W., Welch, A. P. (1986) The use of acyclovir in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 100: 337–340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tien, R., Dillon, W. P.Jackler, R. K. (1990) Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the facial nerve in 11 patients with Bell's palsy. American Journal of Roentgenology 155(3): 573–579.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Uri, N., Greenberg, F., Meyer, W., Kitzes-Cohen, R. (1992) Herpes zoster oticus: treatment with acyclovir. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 101: 161–162.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wassilew, W. W., Reimlinger, S., Nasemann, T., Jones, D. (1987) Oral acyclovir for herpes zoster: a double-blind controlled trial in normal subjects. British Journal of Dermatology 117: 495–501.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yanagida, M., Ushira, K., Yamashita, T., Kumazawa, T., Katoh, T. (1993) Enhanced MRI in patients with Ramsay Hunts syndrome. Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm) 500(suppl): 58–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar