[Intrapetrous neurinomas of the facial nerve and its branches. Apropos of 2 cases].

The complete removal and conservation of the facial function in neurinoma of VIIth nerve in the petrous bone, are the goals of this surgery. In 2 cases, the authors emphasize the difficulty of the diagnosis and the means of making an accurate recognition of this lesion before performing a surgical approach. In the first case, neurinoma was carried by the left nervus intermedius at the level of the genu of VII with extension in the internal auditory meatus. Prior surgery had been a suboccipital craniotomy and a second operation by sus petrosal approach was necessary. In the second case, neurinoma of the right chorda tympani was removed by the retro auricular approach. In these two cases, the facial nerve had been spared.