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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:1334-1337, August 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology

Case Report
HEAD AND NECK

Congenital Bifurcation of the Intratemporal Facial Nerve

Christine M. Glastonbury^a, Nancy J. Fischbein^a, H. Ric Harnsberger^b, William P. Dillon^a and Thomas R. Kertesz^c

^a Department of Radiology, Section of Neuroradiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA
^b Department of Neuroradiology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT
^c Department of Otolaryngology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Address correspondence to Christine M. Glastonbury, Section of Neuroradiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Room 1X55, San Francisco, CA 94110

Summary: Anomalies of the course of the facial nerve have been reported in association with middle and inner ear malformations. Bifurcation of its intratemporal portion is a rare malformation in which focal splitting of one or more facial nerve segments occurs. We describe the CT appearance of this anomaly and discuss its possible embryology. Facial nerve bifurcation is important to recognize in patients undergoing evaluation for congenital hearing loss and other congenital ear malformations.