Just Face It, We Could All Use a (Pictorial) Review: Anatomy, Variants, and Pathology of the Facial Nerve
Imaging plays a central role in the work-up of patients who present with suspected facial nerve pathology. Imaging evaluation, however, can be quite challenging due to the complex anatomy and function of the facial nerve, as well as the diversity of pathology that affects this nerve.
The purpose of this article is to provide a pictorial review of the normal anatomy, function, and imaging appearance of the facial nerve, as well as review the numerous pathologic processes that affect the facial nerve, with emphasis on key differentiating imaging features.
Learning Objective: To understand the normal anatomy and imaging appearance of the facial nerve and to recognize facial nerve pathology when encountered on both CT and MR imaging.
Learning Objective: To understand the normal anatomy and imaging appearance of the facial nerve and to recognize facial nerve pathology when encountered on both CT and MR imaging.
Keywords: CIDP = chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy; CN = cranial nerve; CPA = cerebellopontine angle; GBS = Guillain-Barré syndrome; HFS = hemifacial spasm; IAC = internal auditory canal; ICA = internal carotid artery; NVC = neurovascular compression; OCS = otic capsule‐sparing; OCV = otic capsule‐violating
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: June 1, 2018
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