Normal contrast enhancement (CE) along course of intratemporal facial nerve (CNVII); typically mild to moderate, symmetric with contralateral facial nerve and without bone changes or facial nerve symptoms
Prominent perineural arteriovenous plexus responsible for normal enhancement
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
George E et al: Facial nerve palsy: clinical practice and cognitive errors. Am J Med. 133(9):1039-44, 2020
Radhakrishnan R et al: Comparison of normal facial nerve enhancement at 3T MRI using gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine. Neuroradiol J. 30(6):554-60, 2017
Dehkharghani S et al: Redefining normal facial nerve enhancement: healthy subject comparison of typical enhancement patterns--unenhanced and contrast-enhanced spin-echo versus 3D inversion recovery-prepared fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 202(5):1108-13, 2014
Hong HS et al: Enhancement pattern of the normal facial nerve at 3.0 T temporal MRI. Br J Radiol. 83(986):118-21, 2010
Tabuchi T et al: Vascular permeability to fluorescent substance in human cranial nerves. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 111(8):736-7, 2002
Martin-Duverneuil N et al: Contrast enhancement of the facial nerve on MRI: normal or pathological? Neuroradiology. 39(3):207-12, 1997
Gebarski SS et al: Enhancement along the normal facial nerve in the facial canal: MR imaging and anatomic correlation. Radiology. 183(2):391-4, 1992
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KEY FACTS
Terminology
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TERMINOLOGY
Definitions
Normal contrast enhancement (CE) along course of intratemporal facial nerve (CNVII); typically mild to moderate, symmetric with contralateral facial nerve and without bone changes or facial nerve symptoms
Prominent perineural arteriovenous plexus responsible for normal enhancement
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Selected References
George E et al: Facial nerve palsy: clinical practice and cognitive errors. Am J Med. 133(9):1039-44, 2020
Radhakrishnan R et al: Comparison of normal facial nerve enhancement at 3T MRI using gadobutrol and gadopentetate dimeglumine. Neuroradiol J. 30(6):554-60, 2017
Dehkharghani S et al: Redefining normal facial nerve enhancement: healthy subject comparison of typical enhancement patterns--unenhanced and contrast-enhanced spin-echo versus 3D inversion recovery-prepared fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 202(5):1108-13, 2014
Hong HS et al: Enhancement pattern of the normal facial nerve at 3.0 T temporal MRI. Br J Radiol. 83(986):118-21, 2010
Tabuchi T et al: Vascular permeability to fluorescent substance in human cranial nerves. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 111(8):736-7, 2002
Martin-Duverneuil N et al: Contrast enhancement of the facial nerve on MRI: normal or pathological? Neuroradiology. 39(3):207-12, 1997
Gebarski SS et al: Enhancement along the normal facial nerve in the facial canal: MR imaging and anatomic correlation. Radiology. 183(2):391-4, 1992
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