INTRATEMPORAL HEMANGIOMAS INVOLVING THE FACIAL-NERVE - DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Intratemporal vascular tumors involving the facial nerve are rare beni gn lesions. Because of their variable clinical features, they are ofte n misdiagnosed preoperatively. This study presents a series of 21 pati ents with such lesions managed from 1977 to 1994. Facial nerve dysfunc tion was the most common complaint, present in 60% of the cases, follo wed by hearing loss, present in 40% of cases. High-resolution computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium, and a high in dex of clinical suspicion is required for preoperative diagnosis of th ese lesions. Early surgical resection of these tumors permits acceptab le return of facial nerve function in many patients.