13 year-old with abrupt onset of left facial weakness

This is unpublished
T1 coronals post Gad.
T1 coronals post Gad
T1 coronals post Gad.
T1 coronals post Gad
T1 coronals post Gad.
T1 coronals post Gad
T1 coronals post Gad.
T1 coronals post Gad
T1 axial post Gad.
T1 axial post Gad

Findings:

Enhancement of the left CN VII. Specifically the distal canalicular, the labyrinthine, the tympanic, and the mastoid segments enhance.

DDX:

Bell’s palsy, atypical schwanomma

Diagnosis:

Bell’s palsy

Discussion:

Thin-section contrast-enhanced MR scans are recommended for individuals with atypical presentation of facial paralysis. In the proper clinical setting, contrast-enhanced MR imaging may permit a positive radiographic diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, which has previously been a diagnosis of exclusion.

Submitted by Anthony Giauque, MD, UW Neuroradiology Fellow