EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF RAMSAY-HUNT-SYNDROME - THE ROLE OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with left otalgia, rotatory vertigo; sensorineural hearing loss and acute facial nerve palsy. An enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed discrete enhance ment of the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves in the left internal a uditory canal as well as of the labyrinth. This appearance was compati ble with that in Ramsay Hunt syndrome and acyclovir was started prior to the appearance of any vesicular eruption, The diagnosis was subsequ ently confirmed serologically. She regained full facial function but t he sensorineural hearing loss persisted. The literature pertaining to the role of the MRI in acute facial palsies is reviewed.