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Retrospective case series of the imaging findings of facial nerve hemangioma

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Abstract

The aim was to compare high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and thin-section magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of facial nerve hemangioma. The HRCT and MRI characteristics of 17 facial nerve hemangiomas diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients included in the study suffered from a space-occupying lesion of soft tissues at the geniculate ganglion fossa. Affected nerve was compared for size and shape with the contralateral unaffected nerve. HRCT showed irregular expansion and broadening of the facial nerve canal, damage of the bone wall and destruction of adjacent bone, with “point”-like or “needle”-like calcifications in 14 cases. The average CT value was 320.9 ± 141.8 Hu. Fourteen patients had a widened labyrinthine segment; 6/17 had a tympanic segment widening; 2/17 had a greater superficial petrosal nerve canal involvement, and 2/17 had an affected internal auditory canal (IAC) segment. On MRI, all lesions were significantly enhanced due to high blood supply. Using 2D FSE T2WI, the lesion detection rate was 82.4 % (14/17). 3D fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D FIESTA) revealed the lesions in all patients. HRCT showed that the average number of involved segments in the facial nerve canal was 2.41, while MRI revealed an average of 2.70 segments (P < 0.05). HRCT and MR findings of facial nerve hemangioma were typical, revealing irregular masses growing along the facial nerve canal, with calcifications and rich blood supply. Thin-section enhanced MRI was more accurate in lesion detection and assessment compared with HRCT.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China

    Yunlong Yue & Zhenchang Wang

  2. Department of Radiology, Beijing Shijitan Hopstital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China

    Yanfang Jin & Hui Yuan

  3. Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China

    Bentao Yang

  4. Department of Ear-Nose-Throat, Beijing Shijitan Hopstital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China

    Jiandong Li

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  1. Yunlong Yue
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  2. Yanfang Jin
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  3. Bentao Yang
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  4. Hui Yuan
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  5. Jiandong Li
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  6. Zhenchang Wang
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Correspondence to Zhenchang Wang.

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Yue, Y., Jin, Y., Yang, B. et al. Retrospective case series of the imaging findings of facial nerve hemangioma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272, 2497–2503 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3234-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3234-9

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