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HRCT and MRI diagnosis of facial nerve neuromas<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
宦怡
第四军医大学西京医院放射科 西安 710032
HUAN Yi, Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032
Abstract
Purpose：To investigate the value of HRCT and MRI in diagnosing facial nerve neuromas.
Methods：The HRCT and MRI findings of facial nerve neuromas with complete clinical informations in 9 cases were retrospectively analysed.
Results：Facial nerve neuromas can occur along any segment of the nerve. These tumors typically involved more than one segment of the nerve (8/9 cases, 88.9%). Geniculate ganglion was the most commonly involved segment. The imaging findings of the tumor depend on its location and extension. On HRCT, tumors of intratemporal segment showed enlargement and destruction in involving segment of facial nerve canal, soft tissue mass in the middle ear and /or in the mastoid, erosion of the aterior surface of the petrous bone at the level of the geniculate ganglion fossa and extension of the middle cranial fossas and intraparotid gland. Neuromas in 1 case arising from the internal anditory canal (1AC) and cisternal segments showed a mass in the cerebellopontine cistern(CPA), widening of the 1AC, enlargement of the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve canal and a mass in the middle cranial fossa at the anterior surface of the midpetrous bone by HRCT and MRI.
Conclusion：HRCT and MRI are more accurate to describe the extent and location of these tumors. HRCT is more better for evaluating the osseous destructions in detail, whereas MRI with gadolinium evaluates the tumor itself as best as possible. They are very useful to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of facial nerve neuromas and the most accurate methods of preoperative assessment of these tumors.
Key words：Neuroma Facial nerve Tomography, X-ray computed Magnetic resonance imaging | 
