Facial nerve tumours or 'all that palsies is not Bell's'

Most cases of facial nerve palsy are idiopathic, that is to say, Bell's palsy. A few cases are due to tumours on the facial nerve. Early diagnosis will avoid extensive tissue destruction with loss of hearing and lead to satisfactory facial reinnervation. Five cases are presented. In three, there was a significant delay in diagnosis. A facial nerve tumour generally presents as a paralysis of slow onset and the degree of paralysis often fluctuates. Diagnosis can be made in most cases by high resolution CT.